---
ref: tool:exa/answer-question
name: Answer a question from the web
company: company:exa
workflows: [workflow:personal-email-enrichment, workflow:seo-topical-clusters]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:search-web, category:web-search, has:api]
docs: https://exa.ai/docs/reference/answer
updated: 2026-09-29
---

# Answer a question from the web

Searches the web for a question and returns a direct answer or a summary with citations, or JSON that matches an output schema.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.exa.ai
- Endpoint: `POST /answer`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Bearer $EXA_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://dashboard.exa.ai/api-keys
- Docs: https://exa.ai/docs/get-started/quickstart

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.