Research mode — deep multi-step research

Research is an advanced feature that turns Claude from a conversational assistant into a systematic researcher. When you enable Research, Claude doesn't just answer your question — it investigates it from different angles, synthesizing information from many sources on the internet and your connected integrations. Think of it as an experienced research assistant who can spend several hours gathering information, cross-checking sources, and compiling a detailed report — except this takes minutes rather than hours. Key characteristics of Research mode: instead of a single search, Claude performs many interconnected searches, each building on the results of the previous one. Extended thinking is activated automatically, which allows Claude to plan its approach thoroughly. Every statement in the report cites a source, making verification easy. Most reports are completed in five to fifteen minutes, although complex investigations can take up to forty-five minutes.

Understanding when to apply Research rather than Claude's other tools helps you get the best results. Use Research when you need: comprehensive reports synthesizing information from many sources; in-depth analysis from the internet and your connected integrations; large-scale research that would normally require hours of manual work; comparative analysis, such as evaluating competitors or vendors; reports with citations that can be verified. Use regular web search instead of Research when you need a quick specific fact, such as today's stock price, or when the answer requires only one or two sources, or when speed matters more than completeness. Use extended thinking without Research when you need deep reasoning on a complex problem that doesn't require external information: math problems, code debugging, logical analysis. Research is a tool for gathering and synthesizing information, not for reasoning based on existing knowledge.

When you enable Research, a multi-stage process is activated that goes far beyond a simple internet search. Stage one: Claude plans the approach. With Research enabled, extended thinking is automatically activated. This allows Claude to break down your request, determine what information is needed, and plan how to investigate different aspects of your question. Stage two: Claude conducts multiple searches. Instead of a single search, Claude performs many interconnected searches that build on each other. It decides what to investigate next based on what it finds, following promising directions and filling in gaps. Stage three: Claude synthesizes the results. After gathering information from many sources, including the internet and connected integrations such as Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Drive, Claude compiles everything into a comprehensive, well-organized report. Stage four: Claude provides citations. Every statement in Research reports cites a source, making it easy to verify information and dig into the details when necessary.

To enable Research, find the Research button in the lower left part of the chat interface. Click to turn it on: the button becomes blue when Research is active. An important condition: for Research to work, web search must be enabled. If you haven't yet activated web search, do so in the "Search and tools" settings. Enter a prompt and submit. Claude will work in the background, and you will see progress indicators as it searches and analyzes. Since Research can take from five to forty-five minutes depending on complexity, it's worth spending time on a good prompt. Be specific about goals: instead of "tell me about the electric vehicle market," try "analyze the electric vehicle battery market — identify key players, technology trends, and supply chain issues affecting investment decisions." Specify the desired structure. Include relevant constraints: budget ranges, time frames, geographic requirements. Ask Claude to help refine the prompt before turning on the feature.

When you have Google Workspace or other integrations connected, Research becomes significantly more powerful. Claude can combine context from your emails, calendar, and documents with web search, creating truly personalized research reports. Examples of using Research with integrations. Combining internal and external context: "Summarize what was discussed about Project X in my emails and Slack, then research industry best practices for similar initiatives." Preparing for meetings: "Review my meetings for next week and research each company I'm meeting with." Competitive analysis with internal context: "Find all internal documents about our pricing strategy and compare it with competitor positioning." When using Research with integrations, you can direct Claude by saying "Use context from my Google Drive" or "Include insights from my recent emails on this topic." This turns Research from a tool for searching the internet into a tool for searching both external and internal corporate sources at the same time.