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

# Web Context Provider with Exa's keyless MCP endpoint

> `ExaMCPBackend` speaks to Exa's public MCP server at https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp.

Good first step for trying out web research with no signup. For higher throughput or once you have a key, prefer `ExaBackend` (direct SDK) in `02_web_exa.py`.

```python web_exa_mcp.py theme={null}
"""
Web Context Provider with Exa's keyless MCP endpoint
====================================================

`ExaMCPBackend` speaks to Exa's public MCP server at
https://mcp.exa.ai/mcp — keyless by default (rate-limited), keyed if
`EXA_API_KEY` is set.

Good first step for trying out web research with no signup. For
higher throughput or once you have a key, prefer `ExaBackend` (direct
SDK) in `02_web_exa.py`.

Because the backend holds an MCP session, the cookbook explicitly
brackets usage with `asetup()` / `aclose()`. In a real app those
would normally be wired into the framework's lifespan hook.

Requires:
    OPENAI_API_KEY
    (optional) EXA_API_KEY   raises the rate ceiling
"""

from __future__ import annotations

import asyncio

from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.context.web import ExaMCPBackend, WebContextProvider
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIResponses


async def main() -> None:
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Create the provider (unconnected)
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    web = WebContextProvider(
        backend=ExaMCPBackend(),  # reads EXA_API_KEY if present; works keyless otherwise
        model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4-mini"),
    )

    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Bracket with asetup / aclose so the MCP session lives on this task
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    await web.asetup()
    try:
        print(f"\nweb.status() = {web.status()}\n")

        agent = Agent(
            model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.4"),
            tools=web.get_tools(),
            instructions=web.instructions() + "\nAlways cite URLs inline.",
            markdown=True,
        )

        prompt = "What is the latest stable release of CPython? Cite the source."
        print(f"> {prompt}\n")
        await agent.aprint_response(prompt)
    finally:
        await web.aclose()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(main())
```

## Run the Example

<Steps>
  <Snippet file="create-venv-step.mdx" />

  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    uv pip install -U agno openai
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export your API keys">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Mac/Linux theme={null}
      export EXA_API_KEY="your_exa_api_key_here"
      export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```

      ```bash Windows theme={null}
      $Env:EXA_API_KEY="your_exa_api_key_here"
      $Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the example">
    Save the code above as `web_exa_mcp.py`, then run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    python web_exa_mcp.py
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Full source: [cookbook/12\_context/02\_web\_exa\_mcp.py](https://github.com/agno-agi/agno/blob/main/cookbook/12_context/02_web_exa_mcp.py)