# SearXNG

> metasearch engine

**Wikidata**: [Q107341994](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107341994)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SearXNG)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/searxng

## Summary  
SearXNG is a free and open-source metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple search services while protecting user privacy. It allows users to self-host their own instances and is developed in Python.  

## Key Facts  
- Inception date: March 27, 2021  
- Based on and replaces the project Searx  
- Written primarily in Python and HTML  
- Runs on Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS  
- Distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPLv3)  
- Official GitHub repository: https://github.com/searxng/searxng  
- Supports Docker deployment via `searxng/searxng` image  
- Maintains an official list of public instances at https://searx.space/  
- Uses a custom build system managed through a script (`manage`)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is SearXNG used for?  
A: SearXNG is used as a privacy-respecting metasearch engine that fetches results from various search engines without tracking users. It can be self-hosted or accessed via public instances.  

### Q: Is SearXNG free to use and modify?  
A: Yes, SearXNG is free software licensed under AGPLv3, allowing anyone to run, study, change, and redistribute it.  

### Q: How does SearXNG differ from Google or other mainstream search engines?  
A: Unlike centralized search engines like Google, SearXNG doesn’t track searches or collect personal data. Users can also host their own version of the software locally or privately.  

## Why It Matters  
SearXNG plays a critical role in promoting digital privacy and autonomy by offering a decentralized alternative to major search platforms. As surveillance concerns grow around traditional web services, tools like SearXNG empower individuals and organizations to maintain control over their search behavior. Its extensible architecture supports integration with numerous back-end search providers, making it both flexible and powerful. Additionally, being free software ensures transparency and community-driven development, aligning with principles of open knowledge and user rights.  

## Notable For  
- Being a fully open-source replacement for proprietary search engines  
- Supporting self-hosting and providing easy deployment options including Docker  
- Aggregating results across more than 70 search engines and services  
- Hosting active development and support communities via Matrix (#searxng:matrix.org) and IRC (Libera.Chat)  

## Body  
### Overview  
SearXNG is a metasearch engine designed to provide aggregated search results without compromising user privacy. It acts as an intermediary between users and dozens of external search services such as Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and many others.  

### Development & Licensing  
The project was initiated on March 27, 2021, succeeding the original Searx project. It is written mainly in Python and uses HTML for frontend components. The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/searxng/searxng and licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 (AGPLv3), ensuring all derivative works remain open-source when network-accessible.  

### Technical Details  
- **Programming Languages**: Python, HTML  
- **Operating Systems Supported**: Linux, FreeBSD, macOS  
- **Build System**: Custom management scripts located in the root directory (`manage`)  
- **Deployment Options**: Manual installation, Docker containers (`docker pull searxng/searxng`), AUR packages (`searxng-git`)  
- **Issue Tracking**: Hosted on GitHub Issues – https://github.com/searxng/searxng/issues  
- **Continuous Integration**: Configured using GitHub Actions – see `.github/workflows/integration.yml`  

### Community & Support  
SearXNG maintains strong engagement within tech-oriented communities. Developers and users interact through:  
- **Matrix Room**: #searxng:matrix.org  
- **IRC Channel**: irc://irc.libera.chat/searxng  
- **Documentation Site**: https://docs.searxng.org/  

Public instances are curated and monitored via https://searx.space/, which lists currently operational servers worldwide.  

### Related Projects & Heritage  
SearXNG evolved directly from the earlier Searx project, inheriting much of its modular design but improving performance, maintainability, and scalability. While maintaining compatibility with existing configurations, it introduces updated dependencies and enhanced plugin capabilities.  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "SearXNG",
  "description": "metasearch engine",
  "url": "https://docs.searxng.org/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111884177",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SearXNG"
  ],
  "additionalType": "metasearch engine"
}

## References

1. [searxng/searxng. 2025](https://github.com/searxng/searxng)
2. [Source](https://github.com/searxng/searxng/blob/master/LICENSE)
3. [2023](https://github.com/searx/searx/blob/276ffd3f01cdd823f75676c51231fad4040059d3/README.rst)
4. [Source](https://docs.searxng.org/)
5. [Source](https://github.com/searxng/searxng/blob/master/manage)