Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server

Name: Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server
Author: rendyfebry

@rendyfebry

Repository

About Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) API

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-pse-mcp": {
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60,
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "google-pse-mcp",
        "https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch",
        "<api_key>",
        "<cx>",
        "<siteRestricted>"
      ],
      "transportType": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

Tools

`q` (string, required): Search query

Overview

What is Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) API. It exposes a search tool that lets MCP-compatible clients (such as VS Code, Copilot, and Claude Desktop) perform web searches using Google Custom Search.

How to use Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server?

No manual cloning or installation is needed. Add the configuration snippet to your MCP client’s settings (e.g., VS Code’s settings.json or Cline’s cline_mcp_settings.json), replacing <api_key> and <cx> with your Google API key and custom search engine ID. An optional <siteRestricted> flag (true/false) controls the endpoint used.

Key features of Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server

Single search tool with rich parameter support
Configurable result size (1–10 per page)
Language and safe search filtering
Optional site‑restricted API endpoint
Works with any stdio‑based MCP client

Use cases of Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server

Perform targeted web searches from within an AI‑powered coding assistant
Integrate Google Custom Search results into automated research workflows
Build custom search experiences limited to specific sites (via siteRestricted)

FAQ from Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE) MCP Server

What credentials do I need?

You need a Google API key and a Custom Search Engine ID (cx). Both are available from the Google Cloud Console.

How does the `siteRestricted` flag work?

It determines whether the server uses the Site‑Restricted API endpoint or the standard Custom Search endpoint. The default value (true) uses the restricted endpoint; set it to false to use the standard endpoint.

What parameters does the `search` tool accept?

Required: q (query). Optional: page (number), size (1–10), sort (only "date"), safe (boolean), lr (language code), and siteRestricted (boolean).