---
ref: tool:perplexity/search-people
name: Search for people
company: company:perplexity
workflows: []
access: [api]
tags: [capability:build-audience, category:web-search, has:api]
docs: https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/search/filters/people-search
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Search for people

Returns web results about professionals who match a name, role, company or location, with titles, URLs and snippets naming their jobs and employers.

Set `search_type` to `people` on a Search API request, with a query such as
`Stripe VP of Engineering`; `max_results` and the other Search API parameters
still apply. Use People Search only for legitimate professional research, and
follow the privacy and data protection laws that apply to you.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.perplexity.ai
- Endpoint: `POST /search`
- Auth: send the header `Authorization: Bearer $PERPLEXITY_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://console.perplexity.ai/project/keys
- Docs: https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/getting-started/overview

Before doing anything else, make one read-only call to confirm access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data.
- Never print API keys.