Anthropic has launched a new web search API that enhances the capabilities of its Claude AI models by allowing them to access live web data. This move gives developers the tools to build AI-powered applications that can deliver real-time, up-to-date answers using Claude’s advanced reasoning.
The release, announced Wednesday, comes as AI firms race to enhance model performance with external data sources. With this API, Claude can now retrieve information from the internet and offer responses based on the latest available content — all with proper citations.
Real-Time Intelligence Through Web Search
According to Anthropic, the new API allows developers to enrich Claude’s responses with accurate, current web information. The feature is especially useful for applications that demand fresh insights, such as news summarization, stock analysis, tech documentation support, and more.
“When developers enable web search, Claude can decide if a query needs fresh data,” Anthropic explained in its press release. “It then crafts a search query, reviews web results, and delivers a clear, cited response.”
Claude can refine its searches by performing multiple queries, using initial results to guide follow-up requests. Developers can control how Claude performs searches, choosing which domains to include or exclude. Organizations can also manage search access settings centrally.
This update supports several Claude models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the more recent Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Claude 3.5 Haiku. Pricing starts at $10 per 1,000 searches, making it accessible for startups and enterprise users alike.
Claude Code Gains Real-Time Coding Insights
Alongside the API launch, Anthropic has extended web search support to Claude Code, a tool designed to assist developers with software tasks. By enabling search, Claude Code can now retrieve current API documentation, technical tutorials, and up-to-date library references. This makes the tool more reliable for coding assistance in rapidly evolving tech environments.
Claude Code is still in beta and remains part of a research preview. However, the addition of real-time web access is a significant upgrade, helping devs cut down on manual research and speeding up development cycles.
Anthropic’s strategy appears focused on making Claude more useful across practical scenarios, especially for developers. By combining foundational AI knowledge with real-world data, the company aims to attract more enterprise users and product builders.
Giving Developers More Control
The web search API also gives developers flexible controls over how the tool is used. They can:
- Define which websites Claude is allowed or blocked from searching.
- Set policies at both the application and organizational levels.
- Customize how Claude builds, refines, and interprets web queries.
This level of control helps teams balance performance with data governance needs.
As AI platforms become more dynamic, web search integration is emerging as a must-have feature. Competitors like OpenAI and Google have already added similar capabilities. With this move, Anthropic ensures that Claude remains competitive by offering accurate, current, and contextual responses.
Anthropic’s web search API is now available to developers through its official platform. The company is encouraging feedback as it refines the product for broader rollout.
