# DuckDuckGo API: Search the web

> Searches the web privately with DuckDuckGo in a chosen region and returns the ordered organic results without ads, plus DuckDuckGo's instant answer when it shows one.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by DuckDuckGo.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/duckduckgo.com/search-web
- Method: `duckduckgo.com/search_web`, version 1
- Website: duckduckgo.com
- Returns: position, page title, website name, link, snippet; instant answer
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `query` | string | yes | `"python programming language"` | Search words, for example how to file a trademark. |
| `region` | string | no | `"United Kingdom"` | Country name or two-letter country code, for example United States or DE. Default "United States". |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `24` | Maximum number of organic results to return, for example 20. Default 10. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 31, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "query": "python programming language",
  "region": "United Kingdom",
  "max_results": 24
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "results": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.python.org/",
      "snippet": "Python is a versatile and easy-to-learn language that lets you work quickly and integrate systems more effectively. Learn more about Python , download the latest version, access documentation, find jobs, events, success stories and more.",
      "position": 1,
      "page_title": "Welcome to Python.org",
      "website_name": "python.org"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(programming_language)",
      "snippet": "Python supports multiple programming paradigms but with an emphasis on object-oriented programming and dynamic typing. Guido van Rossum began working on Python in the late 1980s as a successor to the ABC programming language . Python 3.0, released in 2008, was a major revision and not completely bac…",
      "position": 2,
      "page_title": "Python (programming language) - Wikipedia",
      "website_name": "en.wikipedia.org"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.python.org/downloads/",
      "snippet": "The official home of the Python Programming Language",
      "position": 3,
      "page_title": "Download Python | Python.org",
      "website_name": "python.org"
    }
  ],
  "instant_answer": "Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that emphasizes code readability, simplicity, and ease-of-writing with the use of significant indentation, an extensive standard library, and garbage collection. Python supports multiple programming paradigms but with an emphasis on object…"
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"duckduckgo.com/search_web","input":{"query":"python programming language","region":"United Kingdom","max_results":24}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Search DuckDuckGo for "best budget mechanical keyboard 2024" and give me the top 15 organic results with titles, links, and snippets
- I need web results for "how to renew a German passport abroad" as seen from Germany, just the first 10 links
- Look up "symptoms of vitamin D deficiency" privately and show me any instant answer plus the top 5 results
- Find web pages about "cheap flights Toronto to Lisbon" from a Canada region search, up to 25 results, no ads
- Run a private DuckDuckGo search in the UK for "council tax bands explained" and list the ranked results with site names

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Search words, for example how to file a trademark."
    },
    "region": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "United States",
      "description": "Country name or two-letter country code, for example United States or DE."
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of organic results to return, for example 20."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "results",
    "instant_answer"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "results": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "position",
          "page_title",
          "website_name",
          "link",
          "snippet"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "snippet": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "position": {
            "type": "integer"
          },
          "page_title": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "website_name": {
            "type": "string"
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      },
      "description": "Organic search results in displayed order."
    },
    "instant_answer": {
      "type": [
        "string",
        "null"
      ],
      "description": "DuckDuckGo instant-answer text when available."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [Bing API: Search the web](https://fous.com/methods/bing.com/search-web.md): Searches Bing and returns web results in the order shown, with snippets, answer-box text when available, and related searches.
- [Google API: Get search suggestions](https://fous.com/methods/google.com/get-search-suggestions.md): Gets Google Search autocomplete suggestions for words typed so far, in Google's order, for a chosen country and language.
- [Google API: Get interest by region](https://fous.com/methods/trends.google.com/get-interest-by-region.md): Shows where a search term has the highest relative Google Trends interest, by country worldwide or by region within a country. Scores run from 0 to 100.
- [Apple API: Search apps](https://fous.com/methods/apps.apple.com/search-apps.md): Finds iPhone and iPad apps by keyword in a chosen country's App Store, with ratings, prices, categories and App Store links.
- [Google API: Search Chrome extensions](https://fous.com/methods/chromewebstore.google.com/search-extensions.md): Finds Chrome Web Store extensions by keywords in store order, with each listing's developer, users, rating, rating count, short description and store link. Some listings omit developer, users or ratings.
- [Amazon API: Search products](https://fous.com/methods/amazon.com/search-products.md): Searches Amazon products in a chosen country store, with price range, sort, Prime and page options. Returns the listings and prices shown to an anonymous shopper in the store's currency.
- [Google API: Search Google Play apps](https://fous.com/methods/play.google.com/search-apps.md): Finds Android apps on Google Play by keywords, in Play search order, with each listing's developer, star rating, price and currency for the chosen country, download range and link. Results are limited to apps shown on the public search page.
- [DoorDash API: Search restaurants](https://fous.com/methods/doordash.com/search-restaurants.md): Finds DoorDash restaurants delivering to a street address or ZIP code, optionally for a cuisine or dish, in DoorDash's search order. Fees and times reflect guest offers; the numeric fee is null when DoorDash shows no amount.