External search

Providers shared by Web scope and AI/RAG live context

Purpose

Third-party web search plugs into Starcat in two places:

1. Search Center Web scope
2. Live web context for AI / RAG when those switches allow it

AnySearch, Tavily, and similar are providers.

Settings → Integrations → External Search: provider, key, test connection

Screenshot TODO · images/screenshots/search/external-search.webp

How to configure it

Provider	Notes
AnySearch	Common default; whether a key is required follows the app
Tavily	API key
Exa	API key
Brave LLM Context	API key

1. Settings → Integrations → External Search
2. Enable a provider, fill the key if needed, save
3. Test the connection
4. Pick defaults for web search / AI context (follow the UI)

Also see Integrations.

In Search Center: ⌘K → Web → type a query → results include source sites.

Notes

• Results are cached locally to cut repeat billing / requests. Clear the cache in Settings → Storage.
• Queries go to the third-party service you enabled.
• Whether private repos may attach live web context is gated by integration / AI switches. See Privacy.
• Web scope uses External Search providers. Semantic search uses the embedding index.

Related

• Search Center
• AI configuration