The Brave Search MCP runs as a **local stdio server** on your machine: - **Local Execution**: The server runs locally via npx, meaning search queries pass through your machine - **API Key Required**: You'll need a Brave Search API key, which should be kept secure - **Privacy-Focused**: Brave's search index doesn't track users, but your API usage is logged for billing **Security considerations**: Store your API key securely using environment variables, be aware that the local process has access to execute on your machine, and consider network security when making API calls.

To start using the Brave Search MCP: 1. **Get an API key**: Sign up at [Brave Search API](https://brave.com/search/api/) to obtain your API key 2. **Configure your AI client**: Add the MCP server with the command `npx -y @brave/brave-search-mcp-server` 3. **Set environment variables**: Add your `BRAVE_API_KEY` to your configuration 4. **Start searching**: Ask your AI to search the web, find local businesses, or get news on any topic The MCP handles all the API complexity—just ask natural language questions.