Local Descriptions

Local Descriptions (Search API)

> Requires API Key: Get one at https://api.search.brave.com

>

> Plan: Included in the Search plan. See https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com/app/subscriptions/subscribe

>

> Two-step flow: This endpoint requires POI IDs from a prior web search.

>

> 1. Call web-search with result_filter=locations to get POI IDs from locations.results[].id

> 2. Pass those IDs to this endpoint to get AI-generated descriptions

Quick Start (cURL)

Get POI Description

curl -s "https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/local/descriptions?ids=loc4CQWMJWLD4VBEBZ62XQLJTGK6YCJEEJDNAAAAAAA%3D" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Accept-Encoding: gzip" \
  -H "X-Subscription-Token: ${BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY}"

Multiple POIs

curl -s "https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/local/descriptions" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Accept-Encoding: gzip" \
  -H "X-Subscription-Token: ${BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY}" \
  -G \
  --data-urlencode "ids=loc4CQWMJWLD4VBEBZ62XQLJTGK6YCJEEJDNAAAAAAA=" \
  --data-urlencode "ids=loc4HTAVTJKP4RBEBZCEMBI3NG26YD4II4PATIHPDYI="

Note: POI IDs are opaque strings returned in web search locations.results[].id. They are valid for approximately 8 hours. The example IDs above are for illustration — fetch fresh IDs via web-search with result_filter=locations.

Endpoint

GET https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/local/descriptions

Authentication: X-Subscription-Token: <API_KEY> header

Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |

|--|--|--|--|--|

| ids | string[] | Yes | — | POI IDs from web search locations.results[].id (1-20, repeated: ?ids=a&ids=b) |

Response Format

Response Fields

| Field | Type | Description |

|--|--|--|

| type | string | Always "local_descriptions" |

| results | array | List of description objects (entries may be null) |

| results[].type | string | Always "local_description" |

| results[].id | string | POI identifier matching the request |

| results[].description | string? | AI-generated markdown description, or null if unavailable |

Example Response

{
  "type": "local_descriptions",
  "results": [
    {
      "type": "local_description",
      "id": "loc4CQWMJWLD4VBEBZ62XQLJTGK6YCJEEJDNAAAAAAA=",
      "description": "### Overview\nA cozy neighborhood cafe known for its **artisanal coffee**..."
    }
  ]
}

Getting POI IDs

POI IDs come from the Web Search API (web-search) with result_filter=locations:

# 1. Search for local businesses
curl -s "https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/web/search?q=restaurants+san+francisco&result_filter=locations" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "X-Subscription-Token: ${BRAVE_SEARCH_API_KEY}"

# 2. Extract POI IDs from locations.results[].id
# 3. Use those IDs with local/pois and local/descriptions

Use Cases

• Local business overview: Pair with local-pois to get both structured data (hours, ratings) and narrative descriptions
• Travel/tourism enrichment: Add descriptive context to POIs for travel planning or destination guides
• Search results augmentation: Supplement web search results with AI-generated summaries of local businesses

Notes

• Always markdown: Descriptions use ### headings, bullet lists, bold/*italics* — always formatted as markdown
• Travel-guide tone: Typically 200-400 words covering what makes the POI notable
• AI-generated: Descriptions are AI-generated based on web search context, not sourced from business profiles
• Availability: Not all POIs have descriptions — description may be null
• Max IDs: Up to 20 IDs per request