/local-descriptions

name: local-descriptions
description: USE FOR getting AI-generated POI text descriptions. Requires POI IDs from local-place-search, or from web-search with result_filter=locations. Returns markdown descriptions grounded in web search context. Max 20 IDs per request.

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 search. > > 1. Get POI IDs from `local-place-search`, or from `web-search` with `result_filter=locations` (`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

`local-place-search` returns POI IDs directly. They also 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