Brave Search MCP Server

Web search using the Brave Search API.

Overview

Property	Value
Package	@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search
Source	GitHub
Transport	stdio

Installation

npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search

Configuration

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

Getting an API Key

1. Go to https://brave.com/search/api/
2. Sign up for an account
3. Choose a plan (Free tier available)
4. Get your API key

Tools

brave_web_search

Search the web.

Parameters:

• query (string, required): Search query
• count (number, optional): Number of results (default: 10, max: 20)

Example:

{
  "tool": "brave_web_search",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "kubernetes best practices 2024",
    "count": 5
  }
}

Returns:

{
  "results": [
    {
      "title": "Kubernetes Best Practices Guide",
      "url": "https://example.com/k8s-guide",
      "description": "A comprehensive guide to K8s best practices..."
    }
  ]
}

brave_local_search

Search for local businesses and places.

Parameters:

• query (string, required): Search query
• count (number, optional): Number of results

Example:

{
  "tool": "brave_local_search",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "coffee shops near San Francisco"
  }
}

Use Cases

Research Agent

apiVersion: aof.sh/v1alpha1
kind: Agent
metadata:
  name: research-agent
spec:
  model: google:gemini-2.5-flash
  mcp_servers:
    - name: brave-search
      command: npx
      args: ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"]
      env:
        BRAVE_API_KEY: ${BRAVE_API_KEY}
  system_prompt: |
    You research topics using web search:
    1. Search for relevant information
    2. Analyze multiple sources
    3. Synthesize findings
    4. Cite sources properly

    Always verify information from multiple sources.

Documentation Finder

apiVersion: aof.sh/v1alpha1
kind: Agent
metadata:
  name: doc-finder
spec:
  model: google:gemini-2.5-flash
  mcp_servers:
    - name: brave-search
      command: npx
      args: ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"]
      env:
        BRAVE_API_KEY: ${BRAVE_API_KEY}
  system_prompt: |
    You find documentation and guides:
    - Search for official documentation
    - Find tutorials and examples
    - Locate API references
    - Identify community resources

    Prioritize official sources over third-party.

Security Researcher

apiVersion: aof.sh/v1alpha1
kind: Agent
metadata:
  name: security-researcher
spec:
  model: google:gemini-2.5-flash
  mcp_servers:
    - name: brave-search
      command: npx
      args: ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"]
      env:
        BRAVE_API_KEY: ${BRAVE_API_KEY}
  system_prompt: |
    You research security vulnerabilities:
    - Search for CVE information
    - Find security advisories
    - Locate patches and fixes
    - Identify affected versions

    Focus on authoritative sources:
    - NVD (nvd.nist.gov)
    - Vendor advisories
    - MITRE CVE database

Trend Analyzer

apiVersion: aof.sh/v1alpha1
kind: Agent
metadata:
  name: trend-analyzer
spec:
  model: google:gemini-2.5-flash
  mcp_servers:
    - name: brave-search
      command: npx
      args: ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"]
      env:
        BRAVE_API_KEY: ${BRAVE_API_KEY}
  system_prompt: |
    You analyze technology trends:
    - Search for recent developments
    - Compare competing solutions
    - Track adoption patterns
    - Identify emerging technologies

    Provide balanced analysis with pros/cons.

Search Tips

Effective Queries

# Specific technology
"kubernetes 1.29" new features

# Site-specific
site:github.com kubernetes operators

# File type
filetype:pdf kubernetes security

# Recent results
kubernetes best practices 2024

# Exclude terms
kubernetes -docker

Query Optimization

1. Be specific: Include version numbers, dates
2. Use quotes: For exact phrases
3. Combine terms: Use multiple relevant keywords
4. Filter sites: Use site: for authoritative sources

Rate Limits

Brave Search API limits depend on your plan:

Plan	Requests/Month	Rate
Free	2,000	1/second
Basic	20,000	20/second
Pro	Unlimited	50/second

Privacy

Brave Search is privacy-focused:

• No user tracking
• No personalized results
• Independent search index
• No search history stored

Troubleshooting

Invalid API Key

Verify your key:

curl -H "X-Subscription-Token: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  "https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/web/search?q=test"

Rate Limited

Response includes retry-after header:

• Wait for indicated time
• Consider upgrading plan
• Implement request queuing

No Results

Try different query approaches:

• Remove specific terms
• Use broader keywords
• Check for typos

Empty Response

Some queries may return no results:

• Very niche topics
• Recent events not indexed
• Restricted content