> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.definable.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deep Research

> Autonomous multi-wave research with source synthesis.

Deep Research gives agents the ability to autonomously search the web, read sources, extract knowledge, and synthesize findings across multiple research waves.

## Enable Deep Research

```python theme={null}
from definable.agent import Agent

agent = Agent(model="gpt-4o", deep_research=True)

output = await agent.arun("What are the latest advances in quantum computing?")
print(output.content)  # Grounded response with citations
```

## Custom Configuration

```python theme={null}
from definable.agent.research import DeepResearchConfig

agent = Agent(
    model="gpt-4o",
    deep_research=DeepResearchConfig(
        depth="deep",                  # "quick", "standard", or "deep"
        search_provider="duckduckgo",  # or "google", "serpapi"
        max_sources=30,
        max_waves=5,
        include_citations=True,
    ),
)
```

## Depth Presets

| Preset     | Waves | Sources | Use case                    |
| ---------- | ----- | ------- | --------------------------- |
| `quick`    | 1     | 8       | Fast fact-checking          |
| `standard` | 3     | 15      | Balanced research (default) |
| `deep`     | 5     | 30      | Comprehensive analysis      |

## How It Works

1. **Wave 1**: Generate search queries from the user's question.
2. **Search**: Execute queries via the configured search provider.
3. **Read**: Fetch and parse source pages concurrently.
4. **Extract**: Use a compression model to extract Compact Knowledge Units (CKUs).
5. **Evaluate**: Score relevance, detect contradictions, identify gaps.
6. **Repeat**: Generate follow-up queries and research further (waves 2+).
7. **Inject**: Final CKUs are injected into the agent's system prompt.

## Configuration Reference

<ParamField path="depth" type="str" default="standard">
  Research depth: `"quick"`, `"standard"`, or `"deep"`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="search_provider" type="str" default="duckduckgo">
  Search backend: `"duckduckgo"`, `"google"`, or `"serpapi"`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="max_sources" type="int" default="15">
  Maximum unique sources across all waves.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="max_waves" type="int" default="3">
  Maximum research waves.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="include_citations" type="bool" default="true">
  Include source citations in the research context.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="trigger" type="str" default="always">
  When to research: `"always"`, `"auto"` (model decides), `"tool"` (explicit call).
</ParamField>

## Imports

```python theme={null}
from definable.agent.research import DeepResearchConfig
```