What is Brave Search MCP Server

The Brave Search MCP Server is an implementation that integrates the Brave Search API, allowing users to perform both web and local searches efficiently. It aims to enhance the search experience by providing a unified platform for discovering information online and nearby services.

Use cases

This server can be utilized for a variety of search-related tasks, including general web searches for articles and news, as well as local searches for businesses, restaurants, and services. It is suitable for developers looking to incorporate search functionalities into applications or services, providing flexibility in filtering and result management.

How to use

To use the Brave Search MCP Server, users need to obtain an API key from the Brave Search API website. They can then configure the server using Docker or NPX by adding the necessary command and environment variables to their configuration files. This setup allows for easy integration and deployment in various development environments.

Key features

Key features of the Brave Search MCP Server include web search capabilities with pagination and freshness controls, local search for detailed business information, flexible filtering options for content safety and type, and smart fallbacks that redirect to web searches when local results are unavailable.

Where to use

The server can be used in various environments, including local development setups, desktop applications, and integrated into larger software solutions. It is particularly useful for developers working with search functionalities in web applications, mobile apps, and desktop software, making it a versatile tool for enhancing user search experiences.

Brave Search MCP Server

An MCP server implementation that integrates the Brave Search API, providing both web and local search capabilities.

Features

• Web Search: General queries, news, articles, with pagination and freshness controls
• Local Search: Find businesses, restaurants, and services with detailed information
• Flexible Filtering: Control result types, safety levels, and content freshness
• Smart Fallbacks: Local search automatically falls back to web when no results are found

Tools

• brave_web_search

  • Execute web searches with pagination and filtering
  • Inputs:
    • query (string): Search terms
    • count (number, optional): Results per page (max 20)
    • offset (number, optional): Pagination offset (max 9)

• brave_local_search

  • Search for local businesses and services
  • Inputs:
    • query (string): Local search terms
    • count (number, optional): Number of results (max 20)
  • Automatically falls back to web search if no local results found

Configuration

Getting an API Key

1. Sign up for a Brave Search API account
2. Choose a plan (Free tier available with 2,000 queries/month)
3. Generate your API key from the developer dashboard

Installation

Local

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Remote

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brave-search": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://router.mcpso.cc/mcp/brave-search"
    }
  }
}