Exa MCP Server
by exa-labs
The Exa MCP Server enables AI assistants like Claude to use the Exa AI Search API for real-time web searches in a safe and controlled environment. It provides structured search results and handles rate limiting and error cases.
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What is Exa MCP Server?
The Exa MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI applications, specifically Claude Desktop, to access the Exa AI Search API for performing web searches. It acts as a bridge between the AI assistant and the search API, providing a structured and secure way to retrieve and utilize web information.
How to use Exa MCP Server?
To use the Exa MCP Server, you need to install it via NPM, Smithery, or manually. Then, configure Claude Desktop to recognize the server by editing the claude_desktop_config.json file and adding the server's configuration, including your Exa API key. After restarting Claude Desktop, you can ask it to perform web searches, and the server will handle the request, query the Exa API, and return formatted results to Claude.
Key features of Exa MCP Server
Enables AI assistants to perform web searches using Exa's search API
Provides structured search results (titles, URLs, content snippets)
Caches recent searches for reference
Handles rate limiting and error cases gracefully
Supports real-time web crawling for fresh content
Provides specialized search tools: web_search, research_paper_search, twitter_search, company_research, crawling, competitor_finder
Use cases of Exa MCP Server
Enabling Claude to search for recent developments in quantum computing.
Allowing Claude to summarize the latest news about artificial intelligence startups.
Helping Claude find and analyze recent research papers about climate change solutions.
Assisting Claude in researching companies and identifying their competitors.
FAQ from Exa MCP Server
What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a system that lets AI apps connect to external tools and data sources in a clear and safe way.
What prerequisites are needed to use the Exa MCP Server?
What prerequisites are needed to use the Exa MCP Server?
You need Node.js (v18 or higher), Claude Desktop installed, an Exa API key, and Git installed.
How do I configure Claude Desktop to use the Exa MCP Server?
How do I configure Claude Desktop to use the Exa MCP Server?
You need to edit the claude_desktop_config.json file in Claude Desktop's settings and add the Exa server configuration, including the path to the server and your Exa API key.
How do I specify which tools to enable?
How do I specify which tools to enable?
You can add the --tools parameter to your Claude Desktop configuration, listing the tools you want to enable separated by commas (e.g., --tools=web_search,research_paper_search).
What should I do if the server is not found?
What should I do if the server is not found?
Verify the npm link is correctly set up, check Claude Desktop configuration syntax, and ensure Node.js is properly installed.