{"version":"2.1.317","anchor":"web-search-can-be-routed-through-a-search-service","canonical_anchor":"web-search-can-be-routed-through-a-search-service","heading":"Web searches can now run through a separate search service","tier":"notice","area":"Web Search","scope":"individual","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.317\/e\/web-search-can-be-routed-through-a-search-service","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.317","markdown":"### Web searches can now run through a separate search service\n\nWhen a search service is available, the WebSearch tool sends searches through it and reports how many results domain filters left out\n\n**Unclear.** It is not clear what makes the search service available, so it is unknown which setups get this routing.\n\n**What**\n\nThe WebSearch tool is how Claude looks things up on the web. It can now send a search through a separate search service when one is present. Before, searches only went through the existing proxy route or a direct web search request. When the service is present:\n\n- The service can refuse a search before it runs\n\n- The search itself runs through the service\n\n- Results come back labelled `search-service-1`\n\n- Results include a note saying how many were left out by your allowed or blocked domain lists\n\nFor subagents (helper agents Claude starts to work on part of a task), linking parts of the answer to their sources still depends on `CLAUDE_CODE_WEBSEARCH_CITATIONS`. The tool's own description is unchanged in this release.\n\n**Why**\n\nThis changes where web searches actually run, which matters most in embedded or hosted setups where Claude Code is built into another product.\n\n- Flag `tengu_plum_vx3`: Off by default, switched on for this account (read for one account on one subscription tier against v2.1.317; this account: on, anonymous baseline: on, compiled default: off) These values were read against a different version of Claude Code, so treat them as the nearest reading available instead of one taken on this release.\n- Area: Web Search\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 4\/5\n- Signal: 3\/5\n- Scope: individual\n- Heads-up: no"}