# Exa API Engine - SearXNG Documentation (2026.7.28+c01178d03)

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# Exa API Engine

Engine to search using the official Exa Search API. Exa is a search engine for AI agents.

## Configuration

The engine has the following mandatory setting:

- `api_key`

You can obtain an API key from the API Key section in the Exa dashboard.

Optional settings are:

- `results_per_page`

- `search_type`

- `content_mode`

- `content_max_characters`

    - name: exaapi
      engine: exaapi
      shortcut: exa
      api_key: "..."
      results_per_page: 10
      search_type: auto
      content_mode: highlights
      inactive: false

The API supports SafeSearch and region-aware results.

searx.engines.exaapi.api_key: str = ''

  API key for Exa Search API (required).

searx.engines.exaapi.results_per_page: int = 10

  Maximum number of results per request. Value must be between 1 and 100, default is 10.

searx.engines.exaapi.search_type: Literal ['fast', 'auto', 'instant', 'deep', 'deep-lite', 'deep-reasoning'] = 'auto'

  Search type. Default is auto, see documentation for more information.

searx.engines.exaapi.content_mode: Literal ['highlights', 'text'] = 'highlights'

  Content to request from the API: `highlights` (excerpts) or `text` (page text).

searx.engines.exaapi.content_max_characters: int = 500

  Maximum characters for the requested content.

searx.engines.exaapi.request(query: str, params: OnlineParams ) → None

  Create the API request.

searx.engines.exaapi.response(resp: SXNG_Response ) → EngineResults

  Process the API response and return results.