Can I create an AI agent to search the web or search data in real time using n8n?
Yes, you can create AI agents with real-time web search in n8n. Use n8n's HTTP Request node to call Firecrawl's search API, then pass structured results to OpenAI or Anthropic nodes. The visual workflow connects search → processing → AI reasoning → output without requiring custom code.
Firecrawl returns clean markdown and metadata in structured JSON that n8n nodes consume directly. Developers can build agents triggered by webhooks, schedules, or manual input with branching logic for different result types and loops for multi-query research.
Building search agents in n8n workflows
n8n workflows enable autonomous research agents, competitive intelligence monitors, and RAG-powered chatbots. The visual workflow shows complete agent logic from trigger to output.
Workflow structure includes:
- Trigger nodes: webhooks, schedules, or manual triggers start the process
- HTTP Request nodes: call Firecrawl's search endpoint with queries
- Function nodes: process results, filter by relevance, extract specific fields
- AI nodes: OpenAI or Anthropic receives content and generates responses
- Output nodes: store results, send notifications, or trigger other workflows
Developers can iterate on agent behavior by rearranging nodes and adjusting parameters without code deployment or server management.
Real-time search capabilities in n8n
Firecrawl searches live web data including current news, pricing updates, and documentation changes. n8n workflows access real-time information through API calls and keep agents operating on current data instead of stale training data.
Scheduled agents monitor competitors, track industry news, or alert on specific search results. Webhook-triggered agents search on-demand when users submit queries. The combination of n8n's automation and Firecrawl's fresh search results creates agents that operate on current information.
Complete autonomy with agent endpoints
For maximum autonomy, use Firecrawl's /agent endpoint through n8n HTTP Request nodes. The agent endpoint interprets natural language prompts like "find competitor pricing pages and extract their data" and handles search, navigation, and extraction in one call. n8n workflows receive structured results without building multi-step orchestration logic.
Key Takeaways
n8n supports AI agents with real-time web search through HTTP API integrations. Firecrawl's search endpoint provides structured results that n8n workflows consume directly. For complete autonomy, use the /agent endpoint to handle search, navigation, and extraction in one call. Build autonomous research agents, monitoring systems, and RAG chatbots using n8n's visual interface without custom code.
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