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Exa Search

Intelligent AI-powered web search for high-quality content discovery

The Exa Search node provides access to Exa's AI-powered search engine, designed to deliver high-quality, relevant web content. Unlike traditional search engines, Exa is optimized for finding authoritative sources, research papers, and meaningful content, making it ideal for knowledge work, research automation, and content discovery workflows.

How to use it?​

To leverage Exa Search for intelligent content discovery, follow these steps:

  1. Configure API Access:

    • Obtain an API key from your Exa account (https://exa.ai)
    • Store the API key securely using the credentials manager
    • Select "Generic API Key" as the credential type

  2. Set Search Parameters:

    • Number of Results: Specify how many results to retrieve (1-10 results)
    • Higher numbers provide more comprehensive coverage but may include less relevant results
    • Default setting of 5 results typically provides good balance of quality and quantity

  3. Provide Search Query:

    • Connect a well-crafted search query to the Query input
    • Use natural language queries that describe what you're looking for
    • Be specific about the type of content or information needed

  4. Process Search Results:

    • Results are returned as a JSON object containing structured data
    • Each result includes URL, title, content snippets, and metadata
    • Connect output to text processing or analysis nodes for further processing

Example of usage​

Objective: Research recent developments in artificial intelligence for a market analysis report.

Setup Steps:

  1. API Setup: Configure Exa API key in credentials manager
  2. Search Configuration: Set number of results to 8 for comprehensive coverage
  3. Query Input: "Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence 2024"
  4. Result Processing: Extract titles, URLs, and content summaries
  5. Analysis: Use LLM nodes to analyze and synthesize findings

Research Workflow:

  • Start with broad research query about AI developments
  • Exa returns high-quality sources: research papers, industry reports, expert analyses
  • Extract key information from each source
  • Synthesize findings into market intelligence report
  • Use URLs for further deep-dive research as needed

Additional information​

Exa Advantages:

  • Quality Focus: Prioritizes authoritative, well-researched content
  • AI Understanding: Better comprehension of query intent and context
  • Academic Sources: Strong coverage of research papers and scholarly content
  • Less Noise: Reduced irrelevant or low-quality results

Best Use Cases:

  • Academic and scientific research
  • Market intelligence and competitive analysis
  • Fact-checking and verification workflows
  • Content curation for knowledge bases
  • Investment research and due diligence

Query Optimization Tips:​

Effective Query Patterns:

  • Use descriptive, specific language rather than keywords
  • Include context about the type of source you want
  • Specify time frames when researching current events
  • Ask questions in natural language format

Example Queries:

  • "Latest research on quantum computing applications in finance"
  • "Expert analysis on renewable energy market trends 2024"
  • "Technical documentation for GraphQL implementation best practices"

Response Structure:​

  • URL: Direct link to the source content
  • Title: Page or article title
  • Content: Relevant text snippets and excerpts
  • Metadata: Publication date, domain authority, content type
  • Score: Relevance ranking for the query

Integration Patterns:​

  • Research Automation: Combine with document processing for literature reviews
  • Content Curation: Feed results into content management systems
  • Fact Verification: Cross-reference claims against authoritative sources
  • Market Intelligence: Monitor industry developments and trends
  • Knowledge Base Building: Populate vector stores with high-quality content