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

# Limitations

> Current retrieval, provider, content, and caching limitations.

# Limitations

Kestrel Search is designed for lightweight public-web retrieval, not browser
automation or a complete search API replacement.

## Provider HTML can change

Kestrel parses public HTML search pages. Provider markup, throttling, bot
protection, or regional behavior can change without notice and may temporarily
reduce results.

## No persistent cache

Search responses and fetched page bodies are not persistently cached. Repeating
a command contacts the configured providers and pages again.

## PDF content is not fetched

PDF URLs may appear as search results, but Kestrel does not download or extract
their contents.

## Text-oriented content only

Page fetching accepts HTML, XHTML, and plain text. Images, video, binary files,
and other unsupported content types are skipped.

## JavaScript-rendered pages

Kestrel downloads HTTP responses but does not execute page JavaScript. Content
that appears only after client-side rendering may be missing.

## Extraction is heuristic

Main-content extraction removes common page chrome and selects likely content
containers. Unusual layouts may produce incomplete text or retain some noise.

## Search filters differ by provider

DuckDuckGo and Yahoo receive Kestrel's recency filter. Bing currently ignores
`--time-filter`. Region codes are also translated to each provider's supported
parameter format.

## Not browser automation

Kestrel does not sign in, submit forms, click controls, or complete transactions.
Use a browser automation tool for interactive workflows.