---
title: Web Search Environment Server
emoji: 📡
colorFrom: red
colorTo: pink
sdk: docker
pinned: false
app_port: 8000
base_path: /web
tags:
  - openenv
---

# Web Search Environment

A web search environment that searches the web with Google Search API (via Serper.dev).

## Prerequisites

### API Key Setup

This environment requires a Serper.dev API key to function. 

1. **Get your API Key:**
   - Visit [Serper.dev](https://serper.dev/) and sign up for an account
   - Navigate to your dashboard to get your API key
   - Free tier includes 2,500 free searches

2. **Configure the API Key:**

   **For Local Development:**
   ```bash
   export SERPER_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
   ```

   **For Docker:**
   ```bash
   docker run -e SERPER_API_KEY="your-api-key-here" web_search-env:latest
   ```

   **For Hugging Face Spaces (after deployment):**
   - Navigate to your Space's settings page: `https://huggingface.co/spaces/USERNAME/SPACE_NAME/settings`
   - Scroll to the "Repository secrets" section
   - Click "New secret"
   - Name: `SERPER_API_KEY`
   - Value: Your Serper.dev API key
   - Click "Add"
   - The Space will automatically restart and use your API key

   > **Important:** Never commit your API key to code. Always use environment variables or secrets management.

## Quick Start

The simplest way to use the Web Search environment is through the `WebSearchEnvironment` class:

```python
from envs.websearch_env.server.websearch_env_environment import WebSearchEnvironment
from envs.websearch_env import WebSearchAction

try:
    # Create environment from Docker image
    web_search_env = WebSearchEnvironment.from_docker_image("web_search-env:latest")

    # Reset
    result = web_search_env.reset()
    print(f"Reset: {result.observation.content}")

    # Send a search query
    query = "What is the capital of China?"

    result = web_search_env.step(WebSearchAction(query=query))
    print(f"Formatted search result:", result.observation.content)
    print(f"Individual web contents:", result.observation.web_contents)

finally:
    # Always clean up
    web_search_env.close()
```

That's it! The `WebSearchEnvironment.from_docker_image()` method handles:
- Starting the Docker container
- Waiting for the server to be ready
- Connecting to the environment
- Container cleanup when you call `close()`

## Building the Docker Image

Before using the environment, you need to build the Docker image:

```bash
# From project root
docker build -t web_search-env:latest -f server/Dockerfile .
```

## Deploying to Hugging Face Spaces

You can easily deploy your OpenEnv environment to Hugging Face Spaces using the `openenv push` command:

```bash
# From the environment directory (where openenv.yaml is located)
openenv push

# Or specify options
openenv push --namespace my-org --private
```

The `openenv push` command will:
1. Validate that the directory is an OpenEnv environment (checks for `openenv.yaml`)
2. Prepare a custom build for Hugging Face Docker space (enables web interface)
3. Upload to Hugging Face (ensuring you're logged in)

### Prerequisites

- Authenticate with Hugging Face: The command will prompt for login if not already authenticated

### Options

- `--directory`, `-d`: Directory containing the OpenEnv environment (defaults to current directory)
- `--repo-id`, `-r`: Repository ID in format 'username/repo-name' (defaults to 'username/env-name' from openenv.yaml)
- `--base-image`, `-b`: Base Docker image to use (overrides Dockerfile FROM)
- `--private`: Deploy the space as private (default: public)

### Examples

```bash
# Push to your personal namespace (defaults to username/env-name from openenv.yaml)
openenv push

# Push to a specific repository
openenv push --repo-id my-org/my-env

# Push with a custom base image
openenv push --base-image ghcr.io/meta-pytorch/openenv-base:latest

# Push as a private space
openenv push --private

# Combine options
openenv push --repo-id my-org/my-env --base-image custom-base:latest --private
```

After deployment, your space will be available at:
`https://huggingface.co/spaces/<repo-id>`

**⚠️ Important: Configure your API key!**
After deployment, you must add your Serper.dev API key as a secret in the Space settings (see [API Key Setup](#api-key-setup) above). The environment will not work without it.

The deployed space includes:
- **Web Interface** at `/web` - Interactive UI for exploring the environment
- **API Documentation** at `/docs` - Full OpenAPI/Swagger interface
- **Health Check** at `/health` - Container health monitoring

## Environment Details

### Action
**WebSearchAction**: Contains a single field
- `query` (str) - The query to search for
- `temp_api_key` (str) - Temporary Serper.dev API key if not set in envrionment variables.

### Observation
**WebSearchObservation**: Contains the echo response and metadata
- `content` (str) - The formatted prompt that aggregates both query and web contents
- `web_contents` (list) - List of web contents for top ranked web pages
- `reward` (float) - Reward is not defined in this scenario
- `done` (bool) - Always False for search environment
- `metadata` (dict) - Additional info like step count

### Reward
The reward is undefined here.

## Advanced Usage

### Connecting to an Existing Server

If you already have a Web Search environment server running, you can connect directly:

```python
from envs.websearch_env import WebSearchEnvironment

# Connect to existing server
web_search_env = WebSearchEnvironment(base_url="<ENV_HTTP_URL_HERE>")

# Use as normal
result = web_search_env.reset()
result = web_search_env.step(WebSearchAction(query="What is the capital of China?"))
```

Note: When connecting to an existing server, `web_search_env.close()` will NOT stop the server.

## Development & Testing

### Direct Environment Testing

Test the environment logic directly without starting the HTTP server:

```bash
# From the server directory
python3 server/web_search_environment.py
```

This verifies that:
- Environment resets correctly
- Step executes actions properly
- State tracking works
- Rewards are calculated correctly

### Running Locally

Run the server locally for development:

```bash
# Make sure to set your API key first
export SERPER_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

# Then run the server
uvicorn server.app:app --reload
```

## Project Structure

```
web_search/
├── __init__.py            # Module exports
├── README.md              # This file
├── openenv.yaml           # OpenEnv manifest
├── pyproject.toml         # Project metadata and dependencies
├── uv.lock                # Locked dependencies (generated)
├── client.py              # WebSearchEnv client implementation
├── models.py              # Action and Observation models
└── server/
    ├── __init__.py        # Server module exports
    ├── websearch_env_environment.py  # Core environment logic
    ├── app.py             # FastAPI application
    └── Dockerfile         # Container image definition
```