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bobvarkey
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searxng

Query a local SearXNG instance via its JSON API from the CLI.

Updated Apr 25, 2026
Search Tags:#cli#privacy#httpx#web-search#searxng#metasearch#local-instance
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/bobvarkey/diabetes-buddy --skill searxng-bobvarkey
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: searxng
Source: https://github.com/bobvarkey/diabetes-buddy/tree/main/skills/searxng
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/bobvarkey/diabetes-buddy --skill searxng-bobvarkey

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires httpx, rich, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Privacy-preserving web search using your own SearXNG instance to prevent data leakage to external services.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Privacy-focused: All search activity runs through a locally hosted SearXNG, ensuring data control.
  • Multi-engine and versatile categories: Web, images, news, videos, maps, and more can be aggregated locally.
  • Programmable CLI: Provides a command-line interface to perform searches and output results in table or JSON formats.

Quick Start

Run a search against your local SearXNG instance to verify connectivity and view results.

Frequently Asked Questions about searxng

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I perform a private web search using a local SearXNG instance?▼

Private web search is achieved by querying your local SearXNG instance via its JSON API. The CLI accepts query, limit, category, language, and time-range parameters to retrieve results without leaking data to external services.

Can I retrieve news, images, and videos through a SearXNG metasearch CLI?▼

Yes, the SearXNG CLI supports versatile multi-engine categories including web, images, news, videos, and maps. You can specify the desired category in the CLI parameters to aggregate localized results accordingly.

Does the SearXNG CLI require httpx and rich to function?▼

Yes, the SearXNG CLI requires httpx to communicate over HTTP with the local endpoint and rich to format the output results. Both dependencies must be installed to execute searches and display tables or JSON properly.

What is the best way to format private metasearch results for automation?▼

The best way to format private metasearch results for automation is by specifying the JSON output format in the CLI. This returns structured data directly from the local SearXNG instance, making it easy to parse in downstream scripts.

How do I handle SSL verification when querying a local SearXNG endpoint?▼

You can handle SSL verification by optionally disabling it when communicating with the local SearXNG endpoint over HTTP. This allows the CLI to connect to self-hosted instances using self-signed certificates without throwing validation errors.

Why use a local SearXNG instance instead of external search APIs?▼

Using a local SearXNG instance ensures privacy-preserving web search by preventing data leakage to external services. It acts as a self-hosted metasearch aggregator, giving you complete control over your search activity and query logs.

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