{"version":"2.1.295","anchor":"websearch-tool-prompt-switches-on-claude-code-websearch-cita","canonical_anchor":"websearch-tool-prompt-switches-on-claude-code-websearch-cita","heading":"Web search can stop asking Claude to write its own list of sources","tier":"notice","area":"Web Search","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.295\/e\/websearch-tool-prompt-switches-on-claude-code-websearch-cita","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.295","markdown":"### Web search can stop asking Claude to write its own list of sources\n\nWith CLAUDE_CODE_WEBSEARCH_CITATIONS set, Claude is no longer told to end web search answers with a written \"Sources:\" list\n\n**What**\n\nWebSearch is the tool Claude uses to search the web. It comes with written instructions that tell Claude how to use the results. Those instructions have always told Claude to finish its answer with a \"Sources:\" list of the links it used.\n\nWhen the environment variable `CLAUDE_CODE_WEBSEARCH_CITATIONS` is set, Claude Code now changes those instructions. An environment variable is a setting you give a program from your shell before starting it. With it set:\n\n- the instruction to end with a \"Sources:\" list is removed\n\n- the request to include links as markdown hyperlinks is removed\n\n- the block marked as a critical requirement is removed\n\n- a different line takes their place\n\nWithout the variable, the instructions are unchanged; the stock WebSearch description captured under this release is the same as in v2.1.294.\n\n**Why**\n\nThis prepares for sources to be attached to answers directly by the service, rather than being typed out by Claude at the end of each answer.\n\n- Area: Web Search\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 2\/5\n- Signal: 2\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}