You.com Research Routing

Use this skill to choose the right You.com research path for the user's goal: agent-led search, Research API scripts, or managed MCP fallback.

Prerequisites

For API scripts:

• Use YDC_API_KEY when available, or an MPP/x402-capable HTTP client for keyless paid Research API calls.
• With YDC_API_KEY, use these API request headers: X-API-Key: ${YDC_API_KEY} and User-Agent: SKILL/(@youdotcom-oss/agent-skills you-research).
• With MPP/x402, expect Research API pricing by research_effort and at least a 1 cent charge; confirm the user expects a paid managed research request before sending it.

For the agent-led workflow, use the you-research-base MCP profile with you-search and you-contents when available. Those tools and their REST endpoints should use x402 for keyless paid retries, not MPP. See the agent-led deep-search workflow for setup and workflow details.

MPP/x402-aware MCP or HTTP clients may receive HTTP 402 payment challenges from You.com tools and endpoints, then retry with payment headers. Use MPP/x402 for managed Research API calls where appropriate. Let the host client handle external payment and retry; do not add wallet signing logic to this skill.

Research API scripts

When the user wants You.com managed research APIs, write a small script or direct HTTP request instead of calling you-research through MCP, especially for deep, exhaustive, or frontier work.