How Large Language Models Perform Web Search - Alibaba Cloud Model Studio

Large language models (LLMs) are trained on historical data and therefore cannot answer real-time questions. With web search, the model can retrieve up-to-date information before generating its response.

Usage

Enable web search in one of three ways. Each method uses a different parameter:

OpenAI-Compatible Responses API

Use the tools parameter and add the web_search tool.

The Responses API supports only Qwen3.5, qwen3-max, qwen3-max-2026-01-23.

For best results, enable all three tools: web_search, web_extractor, and code_interpreter.

# Import dependencies and create client...
response = client.responses.create(
    model="qwen3-max-2026-01-23",
    input="Weather in Hangzhou",
    tools=[
        {"type": "web_search"},
        {"type": "web_extractor"},
        {"type": "code_interpreter"}
    ],
    extra_body={"enable_thinking": True}
)

OpenAI-Compatible Chat Completions API

Set enable_search: true to enable web search.

# Import dependencies and create client...
completion = client.chat.completions.create(
    # Use a model that supports web search
    model="qwen3-max",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "What will the weather be like in Hangzhou tomorrow?"}],
    # Because enable_search is not an OpenAI standard parameter, pass it via extra_body in Python SDK (or as a top-level parameter in Node.js SDK)
    extra_body={"enable_search": True}
)

DashScope

Set enable_search: true to enable web search.

# Import dependencies...
response = dashscope.Generation.call(
    # If you have not set environment variables, replace the next line with your Model Studio API key: api_key="sk-xxx"
    api_key=os.getenv("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"),
    # Use a model that supports web search
    model="qwen3-max",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "What will the weather be like in Hangzhou tomorrow?"}],
    # Enable web search using the enable_search parameter
    enable_search=True,
    result_format="message"
)

Supported models

International

Qwen-Plus: qwen3.5-plus, qwen3.5-plus-2026-02-15 and later snapshot versions
Both thinking and non-thinking modes support the agent and agent_max search strategies.
Qwen-Flash: qwen3.5-flash, qwen3.5-flash-2026-02-23 and later snapshot versions
Both thinking and non-thinking modes support the agent and agent_max search strategies.
Qwen-Max:
- qwen3-max and qwen3-max-2026-01-23:
  - In non-thinking mode: set the search strategy to agent.
  - In thinking mode: set the search strategy to agent or agent_max (adds web scraping support).
- qwen3-max-2025-09-23: set the search strategy to agent.
Qwen-Omni: qwen3.5-omni-plus, qwen3.5-omni-plus-2026-03-15, qwen3.5-omni-flash, qwen3.5-omni-flash-2026-03-15
Set the search strategy to agent
Qwen-Omni-Realtime: qwen3.5-omni-plus-realtime, qwen3.5-omni-plus-realtime-2026-03-15, qwen3.5-omni-flash-realtime, qwen3.5-omni-flash-realtime-2026-03-15
Set the search strategy to agent
Role play: qwen-plus-character, qwen-flash-character

Global

Qwen-Plus: qwen3.5-plus, qwen3.5-plus-2026-02-15 and later snapshot versions
Qwen-Flash: qwen3.5-flash, qwen3.5-flash-2026-02-23 and later snapshot versions

Both thinking and non-thinking modes support the agent and agent_max search strategies.

Mainland China

Qwen-Max:
- qwen3-max and qwen3-max-2026-01-23:
  - In non-thinking mode: set the search strategy to agent
  - In thinking mode: set the search strategy to agent or agent_max (adds web scraping support)
- qwen3-max-2025-09-23: set the search strategy to agent
Qwen-Plus: qwen3.5-plus, qwen3.5-plus-2026-02-15 and later snapshot versions
Both thinking and non-thinking modes support the agent and agent_max search strategies
Qwen-Flash: qwen3.5-flash, qwen3.5-flash-2026-02-23 and later snapshot versions
Both thinking and non-thinking modes support the agent and agent_max search strategies
Qwen-Omni: qwen3.5-omni-plus, qwen3.5-omni-plus-2026-03-15, qwen3.5-omni-flash, qwen3.5-omni-flash-2026-03-15
Set the search strategy to agent
Qwen-Omni-Realtime: qwen3.5-omni-plus-realtime, qwen3.5-omni-plus-realtime-2026-03-15, qwen3.5-omni-flash-realtime, qwen3.5-omni-flash-realtime-2026-03-15
Set the search strategy to agent
Role play: qwen-plus-character

Getting started

Query stock information using web search.

OpenAI-Compatible

The OpenAI-compatible protocol does not support returning search sources in responses.

Python

import os
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    # If you have not set environment variables, replace the next line with your Model Studio API key: api_key="sk-xxx",
    api_key=os.getenv("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"),
    base_url="https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1",
)
completion = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="qwen3-max",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "What is Alibaba's stock price?"},
    ],
    extra_body={
        "enable_search": True,
        "search_options": {
            # Web search strategy; only agent is supported
            "search_strategy": "agent"
        }
    }
)
print(completion.choices[0].message.content)

Sample response

Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$159.84**.
*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.00**.

Note: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only. Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$159.84**.
*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.00**.

Note: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only.

Node.js

import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
    apiKey: process.env.DASHSCOPE_API_KEY,
    baseURL: "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1"
});

async function main() {
    const completion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
        model: "qwen3-max",
        messages: [
            { role: "user", content: "What is Alibaba's stock price?" }
        ],
        enable_search: true,
        search_options: {
            // Web search strategy; only agent is supported
            search_strategy: "agent"
        }
    });
    console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);
}

main();

Sample response

Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$159.84**.
*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.00**.

Note: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only. Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$159.84**.
*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.00**.

Note: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only.

curl

curl -X POST https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
    "model": "qwen3-max",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "user", 
            "content": "What is Alibaba's stock price?"
        }
    ],
    "enable_search": true,
    "search_options": {
        "search_strategy": "agent"
    }
}'

DashScope

The DashScope protocol supports setting enable_source to true to include search sources in the response.

Python

import os
import dashscope
dashscope.base_http_api_url = "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1"

response = dashscope.Generation.call(
    api_key=os.getenv("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"),
    model="qwen3-max",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "What is Alibaba's stock price?"}],
    enable_search=True,
    search_options={
        # Web search strategy; only agent is supported: call the web search tool and LLM multiple times to retrieve and synthesize information
        "search_strategy": "agent",
        "enable_source": True # Include search sources in response
    },
    result_format="message",
)
print("="*20 + "Search Results" + "="*20)
for web in response.output.search_info["search_results"]:
    print(f"[{web['index']}]: [{web['title']}]({web['url']})")
print("="*20 + "Response Content" + "="*20)
print(response.output.choices[0].message.content)

Sample response

====================Search Results====================
[1]: [Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — East Money](https://wap.eastmoney.com/quote/stock/106.BABA.html)
[2]: [Alibaba (BABA) U.S. Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — Sina Finance](https://gu.sina.cn/quotes/us/BABA)
[3]: [Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Forecast — Investing.com](https://cn.investing.com/equities/alibaba)
[4]: [Alibaba-W (9988.HK) Stock Price, News, Quote, and Data — Yahoo Finance](https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/quote/9988.HK/)
[5]: [Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Discussion — Xueqiu](https://xueqiu.com/S/BABA)
[6]: [Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Moomoo](https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/BABA-US)
[7]: [Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Stock Price, News, Quote … — Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BABA/)
[8]: [Alibaba — Tencent Securities](https://gu.qq.com/usBABA.N)
[9]: [W (09988) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Alibaba — Moomoo](https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/09988-HK)
====================Response Content====================
Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**:
    *   Today’s opening price: $160.98
    *   Yesterday’s closing price: $160.80
    *   Today’s high: $161.19
    *   Today’s low: $156.20

*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**:
    *   Latest quote: HK$158.00–HK$158.10
    *   Today’s opening price: HK$156.50
    *   Previous trading day’s closing price: HK$162.00
    *   Today’s range: HK$156.30–HK$158.40

Java

import com.alibaba.dashscope.aigc.generation.Generation;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.aigc.generation.GenerationParam;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.aigc.generation.GenerationResult;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.aigc.generation.SearchOptions;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.common.Message;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.utils.Constants;
import com.alibaba.dashscope.common.Role;
import java.util.Arrays;

public class Main {
    static {Constants.baseHttpApiUrl="https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1";}
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Generation gen = new Generation();
        Message userMsg = Message.builder()
                .role(Role.USER.getValue())
                .content("What is Alibaba's stock price?")
                .build();

        SearchOptions searchOptions = SearchOptions.builder()
                // Web search strategy; only agent is supported
                .searchStrategy("agent")
                // Return search sources
                .enableSource(true)
                .build();

        GenerationParam param = GenerationParam.builder()
                .apiKey(System.getenv("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"))
                .model("qwen3-max")
                .messages(Arrays.asList(userMsg))
                .resultFormat(GenerationParam.ResultFormat.MESSAGE)
                .enableSearch(true)
                .searchOptions(searchOptions)
                .build();
        try {
            GenerationResult result = gen.call(param);
            System.out.println("=".repeat(20)+"Search Results"+"=".repeat(20));
            System.out.println(result.getOutput().getSearchInfo().getSearchResults());
            System.out.println("=".repeat(20)+"Response Content"+"=".repeat(20));
            System.out.println(result.getOutput().getChoices().get(0).getMessage().getContent());
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("Error: " + e.getMessage());
        }
    }
}

Sample response

====================Search Results====================
[SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=1, title=Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — East Money, url=https://wap.eastmoney.com/quote/stock/106.BABA.html), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=2, title=Alibaba (BABA) U.S. Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — Sina Finance, url=https://gu.sina.cn/quotes/us/BABA), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=3, title=Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Forecast — Investing.com, url=https://cn.investing.com/equities/alibaba), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=4, title=Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Discussion — Xueqiu, url=https://xueqiu.com/S/BABA), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=5, title=Alibaba-W (9988.HK) Stock Price, News, Quote, and Data — Yahoo Finance, url=https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/quote/9988.HK/), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=6, title=Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Moomoo, url=https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/BABA-US), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=7, title=Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) — Yahoo Finance, url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BABA/), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=8, title=Alibaba — Tencent Securities, url=https://gu.qq.com/usBABA.N), SearchInfo.SearchResult(siteName=null, icon=null, index=9, title=W (09988) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Alibaba — Moomoo, url=https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/09988-HK)]
====================Response Content====================
Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price is as follows:

*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$159.84**.
*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.00**.

Note: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only.

curl

curl -X POST https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v1/services/aigc/text-generation/generation \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
    "model": "qwen3-max",
    "input":{
        "messages":[      
            {
                "role": "user",
                "content": "What is Alibaba's stock price?"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parameters": {
        "enable_search": true,
        "search_options": {
            "search_strategy": "agent",
            "enable_source": true
        },
        "result_format": "message"
    }
}'

Sample response

{
  "output": {
    "choices": [
      {
        "finish_reason": "stop",
        "message": {
          "content": "Based on the latest market data, Alibaba’s stock price differs between U.S. and Hong Kong markets:\n\n*   **U.S. Market (BABA)**: Latest price is about **$160.40**.\n    *   Today’s opening price: $160.98\n    *   Today’s range: $156.20–$161.19\n\n*   **Hong Kong Market (09988.HK)**: Latest price is about **HK$158.10**.\n    *   Today’s opening price: HK$156.50\n    *   Today’s range: HK$156.30–HK$158.40\n\nNote: Stock prices change in real time. The above information is for reference only.",
          "role": "assistant"
        }
      }
    ],
    "search_info": {
      "search_results": [
        {
          "index": 1,
          "title": "Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — East Money",
          "url": "https://wap.eastmoney.com/quote/stock/106.BABA.html"
        },
        {
          "index": 2,
          "title": "Alibaba (BABA) U.S. Stock Price, Chart, and Quote — Sina Finance",
          "url": "https://gu.sina.cn/quotes/us/BABA"
        },
        {
          "index": 3,
          "title": "Alibaba-W (9988.HK) Stock Price, News, Quote, and Data — Yahoo Finance",
          "url": "https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/quote/9988.HK/"
        },
        {
          "index": 4,
          "title": "Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Chart, and Forecast — Investing.com",
          "url": "https://cn.investing.com/equities/alibaba"
        },
        {
          "index": 5,
          "title": "Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Discussion — Xueqiu",
          "url": "https://xueqiu.com/S/BABA"
        },
        {
          "index": 6,
          "title": "Alibaba (BABA) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Moomoo",
          "url": "https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/BABA-US"
        },
        {
          "index": 7,
          "title": "W (09988) Stock Price, Market Cap, Real-Time Chart, Financial Reports — Alibaba — Moomoo",
          "url": "https://www.moomoo.com/hans/stock/09988-HK"
        },
        {
          "index": 8,
          "title": "Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Stock Price, News, Quote and Data — Yahoo Finance",
          "url": "https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/quote/BABA/"
        },
        {
          "index": 9,
          "title": "Alibaba — Tencent Securities",
          "url": "https://gu.qq.com/usBABA.N"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "usage": {
    "input_tokens": 2004,
    "output_tokens": 203,
    "plugins": {
      "search": {
        "count": 1,
        "strategy": "agent"
      }
    },
    "prompt_tokens_details": {
      "cached_tokens": 0
    },
    "total_tokens": 2207
  },
  "request_id": "45c231d2-811e-4e04-a361-f2c1909f1dd9"
}

With the Responses API

Use the tools parameter to enable web search. Add the web_search tool to the tools array.

Supported only with qwen3.5-plus, qwen3.5-plus-2026-02-15, qwen3.5-flash, qwen3.5-flash-2026-02-23; and qwen3-max and qwen3-max-2026-01-23 in thinking mode.

For best results, enable all three tools: web_search, web_extractor, and code_interpreter.

Python

from openai import OpenAI
import os

client = OpenAI(
    # If you have not set environment variables, replace the next line with your Model Studio API key: api_key="sk-xxx",
    api_key=os.getenv("DASHSCOPE_API_KEY"),
    base_url="https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v2/apps/protocols/compatible-mode/v1"
)

response = client.responses.create(
    model="qwen3-max-2026-01-23",
    input="Weather in Singapore",
    tools=[
        {"type": "web_search"},
        {"type": "web_extractor"},
        {"type": "code_interpreter"}
    ],
    extra_body={"enable_thinking": True}
)

print("="*20 + "Response Content" + "="*20)
print(response.output_text)

print("="*20 + "Tool Call Count" + "="*20)
usage = response.usage
if hasattr(usage, 'x_tools') and usage.x_tools:
    print(f"Web search count: {usage.x_tools.get('web_search', {}).get('count', 0)}")
# Uncomment to view intermediate output
# for r in response.output:
#     print(r.model_dump_json())

Node.js

import OpenAI from "openai";

const openai = new OpenAI({
    // If you have not set environment variables, replace the next line with your Model Studio API key: apiKey: "sk-xxx",
    apiKey: process.env.DASHSCOPE_API_KEY,
    baseURL: "https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v2/apps/protocols/compatible-mode/v1"
});

async function main() {
    const response = await openai.responses.create({
        model: "qwen3-max-2026-01-23",
        input: "Weather in Singapore",
        tools: [
            { type: "web_search" },
            { type: "web_extractor" },
            { type: "code_interpreter" }
        ],
        enable_thinking: true
    });

    console.log("====================Response Content====================");
    console.log(response.output_text);
Set search scope strategy
    console.log("====================Tool Call Count====================");
You can set the search scope strategy based on your needs for cost, accuracy, and response speed.
        console.log(`Web search count: ${response.usage.x_tools.web_search?.count || 0}`);

    // console.log(JSON.stringify(response.output[0], null, 2));
}

main();

curl

curl -X POST https://dashscope-intl.aliyuncs.com/api/v2/apps/protocols/compatible-mode/v1/responses \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $DASHSCOPE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
    "model": "qwen3-max-2026-01-23",
    "input": "Weather in Singapore",
    "tools": [
        {"type": "web_search"},
        {"type": "web_extractor"},
        {"type": "code_interpreter"}
    ],
    "enable_thinking": true
}'

Billing details

Billing covers two areas:

Model call fees: Web search content is appended to the prompt, increasing input tokens. You are billed at the model’s standard rate. For pricing, see Model List.
Search strategy fees:
- agent strategy:
  - Cost per 1,000 calls:
    - Mainland China and global deployment: $0.573411
    - International deployment: $10.00.
- agent_max strategy (limited-time offer):
  Covers both web search and web scraping fees.
  - Web search tool cost per 1,000 calls:
    - Mainland China deployment: $0.573411.
    - International deployment: $10.00.
  - Web scraping tool is free during this promotion.

Error messages

If an error occurs, see Error Messages for troubleshooting.