Search Tools

Tools for finding NAICS codes based on queries.

search_naics_codes

The primary search tool. Uses hybrid semantic + lexical search for best results.

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
`query`	string	Yes	—	Business description or keywords
`strategy`	string	No	`"hybrid"`	Search strategy: `"hybrid"`, `"semantic"`, or `"lexical"`
`limit`	integer	No	`10`	Maximum results (1-50)
`min_confidence`	float	No	`0.3`	Minimum confidence threshold (0-1)
`include_cross_refs`	boolean	No	`true`	Include cross-reference info

Search Strategies

Strategy	Best For	How It Works
`hybrid`	Most queries	Combines semantic and lexical, best overall accuracy
`semantic`	Vague descriptions	Uses embeddings to find conceptually similar codes
`lexical`	Known terminology	Exact and fuzzy text matching

Response


{
  "results": [
    {
      "code": "311111",
      "title": "Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing",
      "description": "This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing dog and cat food from grain, meat, and other ingredients.",
      "level": "national_industry",
      "confidence": 0.92,
      "match_type": "semantic",
      "cross_references": [
        {
          "type": "exclusion",
          "text": "Retailing pet food--are classified in Industry 453910"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "query": "organic dog treats manufacturer",
  "strategy": "hybrid",
  "total_results": 5
}

Examples

Basic search:


{
  "query": "pizza restaurant"
}

With options:


{
  "query": "software development consulting",
  "strategy": "hybrid",
  "limit": 5,
  "min_confidence": 0.5,
  "include_cross_refs": true
}

search_index_terms

Search the 20,398 official NAICS index terms. More precise than general search when you know specific industry terminology.

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
`term`	string	Yes	—	Index term to search
`exact`	boolean	No	`false`	Require exact match
`limit`	integer	No	`20`	Maximum results

Response


{
  "results": [
    {
      "term": "Pizza parlors",
      "code": "722513",
      "title": "Limited-Service Restaurants",
      "match_type": "exact"
    },
    {
      "term": "Pizza delivery shops",
      "code": "722513",
      "title": "Limited-Service Restaurants",
      "match_type": "partial"
    }
  ],
  "query": "pizza",
  "total_results": 2
}

Examples

Fuzzy search:


{
  "term": "bakery"
}

Exact match:


{
  "term": "Retail bakeries",
  "exact": true
}

When to Use

Use search_index_terms when:

You know the exact industry term
search_naics_codes returns too many results
You want to verify official terminology

Use search_naics_codes when:

You have a business description (not a term)
You need semantic matching
The description is vague or complex