Models & context
Web search and sources
Learn when models search the web, where to inspect sources, and how search use affects credits.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”Web search is an internal tool a model may call while answering; it is not a separate switch in the prompt composer. A model searches when it supports tool calls and the request needs recent or live information, or when you explicitly ask it to search or cite sources. The model may answer from its existing knowledge instead. Build mode does not use this search tool.
When a search is used, Neurothread shows a Sources control on the answer. The full search result content is passed into that generation, while the saved source list contains titles and URLs. Search output can be useful context, but it is not a guarantee that the answer accurately represents a page.
When to use this
Section titled “When to use this”Ask for search when the answer depends on changing facts such as recent releases, current prices, news, or live availability. It is also useful when you want links to pages the model consulted. For stable concepts, writing, translation, calculations, or a summary of material you supplied, web search may not be needed. Be precise: specify the date range, location, or source type that matters.
- Choose a model available to your account that supports tool calls. Not every model has that capability, and the app does not offer a “Web” checkbox for normal answers.
- Ask a question whose answer needs current information, or say plainly, “Search the web and cite the sources.” Include a date, region, or other boundary when it affects the result.
- Wait for the answer. If the model decides to search, it may show source links as it works; the app allows at most two web searches in one answer.
- In Chat, select Sources below the answer. On Canvas, use the link/source control on the answer node. Open the links to check publication dates, original wording, and whether a source actually supports the claim.
- Ask a follow-up in the same branch if you want the model to compare sources, reconcile conflicting dates, or explain which evidence supports a particular statement.
- If you need an answer without web search, use a model or task that does not require current facts and say that you want an answer based only on the conversation or supplied material. The model’s tool decision is not a user-controlled toggle.
Worked example
Section titled “Worked example”For a changing question, ask: “Search for the latest published guidance on home battery warranties in Spain. Give me the publication dates, distinguish manufacturer terms from legal requirements, and link each source.” Open the Sources list, compare the pages with the claims, and follow up if the sources disagree. For a stable question such as “Explain how a lithium-ion battery stores energy,” a direct explanation may be enough unless you need current references.
What happens next
Section titled “What happens next”The answer and its source links remain with the conversation. Selecting a source opens the page in a new browser tab, so you can inspect it directly. Search content itself is used during that answer; the persisted source list is the page title and URL. A model can still misunderstand a source, rely on a low-quality page, or omit a useful reference, so verify high-impact information before acting on it.
Cost and limitations
Section titled “Cost and limitations”Search use can spend Neurothread credits in addition to the model’s token use. The estimate is not a fixed search price: actual search use and model usage determine the final charge shown on the answer. Do not infer Neurothread’s search cost from a search provider’s public plan or API pricing; it is handled through the app’s credit system and can depend on current service configuration. With your own provider key, the model call is billed by that provider, but web search is a separate Neurothread service and may still use credits; if your Neurothread credit allowance is exhausted, search can be unavailable even while using your key. See Models and credits, BYOK, and the current pricing page.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”- No Sources button: the model may not have searched, or the selected model may not support tool calls. Ask explicitly for current research, or choose a tool-capable model.
- Sources are missing or incomplete: the search may have returned no useful pages, or the answer may not have used the tool. Ask again with clearer terms, dates, or a specific source type.
- A link does not support the answer: open the page, check its date and context, and ask the model to distinguish what the page says from its own inference.
- Search stops working with a personal key: check your Neurothread credit usage too; the provider key does not cover Neurothread’s separate search service.
- You need a source available reliably: attach or import a public page through Images and documents and verify the imported text.