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

# Search Knowledge Node

> Search a knowledge base from inside a workflow

The Search Knowledge node runs a semantic search over a [Knowledge Base](/features/knowledge-base) and returns the most relevant passages. Use it to pull facts, policies, or product docs into a workflow before the next step decides what to do.

<Frame caption="Search Knowledge configuration — pick the knowledge base, write the query, optionally cap results and toggle reranking.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/glorium/eqWkhSfBUec9afZU/images/nodes/node-search-knowledge-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=eqWkhSfBUec9afZU&q=85&s=53a4f01cf9751671fadda8818b8448ab" alt="Search Knowledge node configuration form" width="1440" height="1200" data-path="images/nodes/node-search-knowledge-form.png" />
</Frame>

## When to use

* **Grounded answers** — Pull relevant policy or product passages before [Ask AI](/nodes/actions/ask-ai) drafts a reply.
* **Lookups** — Find the right SKU, FAQ entry, or playbook step based on a free-form query.
* **Citations** — Surface source passages so an actor or a downstream node can quote them with context.

## How it works

1. Pick which knowledge base to search.
2. Write the query — usually a template that includes the user's message or a derived variable.
3. The node returns ranked matches (text + source metadata) into the output variable.
4. Downstream nodes read `{{<output_variable>.results}}` and pass it to Ask AI, App Action, or wherever it's needed.

<Tip>
  For multi-agent conversations, you usually want to attach the knowledge base as a [Capability](/conversation-flows/build/capabilities) on the actor instead — the LLM decides when to search and which query to use.
</Tip>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Knowledge Base" icon="database" href="/features/knowledge-base">
    Index documents that workflows and actors can search.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask AI" icon="brain" href="/nodes/actions/ask-ai">
    Pair Search Knowledge with Ask AI for grounded responses.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>