# web_research

Answer a research question from live web sources in one call — returns a synthesized answer with numbered [N] citation markers and a citations array of {url, title, index}. Supports recency and domain filters. Use for questions needing current, sourced information (news about a company, market state, comparisons). For raw search result links use web.search; mode='deep' runs minutes-long exhaustive research — only when explicitly requested.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `web_research`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/web-research

## Facts

- Tool: `web_research`
- Server: Dialogbrain (`https://api.dialogbrain.com/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/saloprj/dialogbrain-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 4 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `mode` | string | no | Research depth: 'quick' (default, seconds, cheapest), 'pro' (harder questions, better sourcing), 'deep' (autonomous multi-step research, takes minutes — only wh |
| `query` | string | yes | Research question. Specific scoped questions outperform vague keywords. |
| `domains` | array | no | Restrict search to these domains (max 10), e.g. ['coindesk.com', 'cointelegraph.com']. Prefix with '-' to exclude a domain. |
| `recency` | string | no | Only use sources from this window. Omit for no limit. |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "web_research",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "<query>"
    }
  }
}
```

## Why web_research is rated Low

web_research retrieves and aggregates publicly available web data to answer questions. It has no side effects, does not modify any data, execute commands, or trigger external operations beyond information fetching. The 'deep' mode parameter merely controls search depth/duration, not execution capability. This is a straightforward Read operation with minimal security risk.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool performs information retrieval from web sources with 'synthesized answer' and 'citations array' — no modification, deletion, or execution capabilities."

## Use case

AI agents call web_research to retrieve information from Dialogbrain without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Dialogbrain:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "web_research": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Dialogbrain (224)

- `agents_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-delete.md
- `agents_trigger_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-trigger-delete.md
- `ai_filters_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/ai-filters-delete.md
- `ai_tags_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/ai-tags-delete.md
- `calendar_delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/calendar-delete-event.md
- `collections_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/collections-delete.md
- `files_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/files-delete.md
- `folders_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/folders-delete.md
- `integrations_remove_endpoints` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/integrations-remove-endpoints.md
- `messages_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/messages-delete.md
- `notes_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/notes-delete.md
- `reminder_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/reminder-cancel.md
- `tasks_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/tasks-delete.md
- `threads_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/threads-delete.md
- `widgets_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/widgets-delete.md
- `youtube_delete_comment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/youtube-delete-comment.md
- `youtube_delete_video` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/youtube-delete-video.md
- `agent_handoff` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agent-handoff.md
- `agents_simulate_inbound` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/agents-simulate-inbound.md
- `android_launch_app` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-launch-app.md
- `android_shell` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-shell.md
- `android_ui_dump` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/android-ui-dump.md
- `background_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/background-run.md
- `browser_attach_meet` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-attach-meet.md
- `browser_click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-click.md
- `browser_close` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-close.md
- `browser_drag` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-drag.md
- `browser_evaluate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-evaluate.md
- `browser_fill` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-fill.md
- `browser_fill_form` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain/browser-fill-form.md
- …and 194 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-saloprj-dialogbrain