search-results changedbuild-with-claude/search-results
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## Claude’s response with citations ## Claude's response with citations
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11751175 ```
11761176</CodeGroup>
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1178## Claude's response with citations
1178## Claude’s response with citations
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11801180Regardless of how search results are provided, Claude automatically includes citations when using information from them:
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12321232| `title` | string or null | The title from the original search result |
12331233| `cited_text` | string | The full text of the cited block(s), concatenated. Equals the contents of `content[start_block_index:end_block_index]` joined together. Not counted toward output tokens. |
12341234| `search_result_index` | integer | 0-based index of the cited search result among all `search_result` blocks in the request, in the order they appear (across all messages and tool results). |
1235| `start_block_index` | integer | 0-based index of the first cited block in the search result's `content` array. |
1236| `end_block_index` | integer | Exclusive end index of the cited block range in the search result's `content` array. Always greater than `start_block_index`. |
1235| `start_block_index` | integer | 0-based index of the first cited block in the search result’s `content` array. |
1236| `end_block_index` | integer | Exclusive end index of the cited block range in the search result’s `content` array. Always greater than `start_block_index`. |
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1238The block indices identify a slice of the search result's `content` array, and `cited_text` is the full text of that slice. The text block is the minimal citable unit: Claude cites whole blocks, not substrings within a block. To get finer-grained citations, split your search result content into smaller blocks (see [Multiple content blocks](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/search-results#multiple-content-blocks)).
1238The block indices identify a slice of the search result’s `content` array, and `cited_text` is the full text of that slice. The text block is the minimal citable unit: Claude cites whole blocks, not substrings within a block. To get finer-grained citations, split your search result content into smaller blocks (see [Multiple content blocks](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/search-results#multiple-content-blocks)).
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12401240## Multiple content blocks
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12781278}
12791279```
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1281When this search result is cited, `start_block_index` and `end_block_index` identify which of these blocks the citation covers, and `cited_text` contains exactly those blocks' text. Splitting content into smaller, focused blocks gives Claude finer citation boundaries; combining content into one block means every citation returns the full text. This is the same model used by [custom content documents](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/citations#custom-content-documents) in the Citations feature.
1281When this search result is cited, `start_block_index` and `end_block_index` identify which of these blocks the citation covers, and `cited_text` contains exactly those blocks’ text. Splitting content into smaller, focused blocks gives Claude finer citation boundaries; combining content into one block means every citation returns the full text. This is the same model used by [custom content documents](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/citations#custom-content-documents) in the Citations feature.
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12831283## Advanced usage
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12871287You can mix both methods in the same conversation. Claude cites from either source, and `search_result_index` counts all `search_result` blocks in request order, regardless of source.
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1289The following example replays a complete conversation. The first user message carries a pre-fetched search result, the assistant turn calls a knowledge base tool, and the tool result returns a second search result. Claude's answer cites both sources:
1289The following example replays a complete conversation. The first user message carries a pre-fetched search result, the assistant turn calls a knowledge base tool, and the tool result returns a second search result. Claude’s answer cites both sources:
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12911291<CodeGroup>
12921292 ```bash cURL
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20562056In user messages, `search_result` blocks can sit alongside any other content block. The Method 2 example pairs search results with a `text` question, and image or document blocks can join them the same way.
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2058Tool results are stricter: if any block in a `tool_result` content array is a `search_result`, all of its blocks must be `search_result`. Mixing search results with other block types in the same tool result returns a validation error. To return supporting text alongside tool-sourced search results, include it as a text block inside one of the search results' `content` arrays, where it also becomes citable.
2058Tool results are stricter: if any block in a `tool_result` content array is a `search_result`, all of its blocks must be `search_result`. Mixing search results with other block types in the same tool result returns a validation error. To return supporting text alongside tool-sourced search results, include it as a text block inside one of the search results’ `content` arrays, where it also becomes citable.
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20602060### Cache control
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21412141 </Card>
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21432143 <Card title="Citations" icon="book" href="https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/citations">
2144 Ground Claude's responses in your source documents. Citations return the exact passages that support each claim, so you can verify answers and surface sources to your users.
2144 Ground Claude’s responses in your source documents. Citations return the exact passages that support each claim, so you can verify answers and surface sources to your users.
21452145 </Card>
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21472147 <Card title="Web search tool" icon="magnifying-glass" href="https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agents-and-tools/tool-use/web-search-tool">
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