# OAI-SearchBot

Operator: OpenAI
Purpose: AI search
Reviewed: 2026-09-14
HTTP identifier: OAI-SearchBot
robots.txt token: OAI-SearchBot

## What is OAI-SearchBot?

Discovers content for ChatGPT search results.

## How to identify it

Look for the OAI-SearchBot identifier in a request’s User-Agent. This is a name match, not identity verification. Version strings may change.

## How to check identity

Compare the request IP with the current operator-published ranges linked in the source. A matching name alone does not verify identity.

## Access and robots.txt

Disallow OAI-SearchBot to exclude content from ChatGPT search answers. Navigational links may still appear.

Optional full-site opt-out; merge with existing rules only if intended. Not a security control.

```text
User-agent: OAI-SearchBot
Disallow: /
```

## What it means in your analytics

Successful retrieval is one step toward discoverability. It does not prove that an answer cited your page or that a visitor converted.

## Useful measures

Public-page coverage; Retrieval failures; Referrals separately.

## What to check next

Check whether useful product and documentation URLs return readable content. Compare failures with your intended search policy.

## Sources

- [developers.openai.com](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/bots)

Operator facts are source-backed; interpretation and actions are Apostl guidance.

## Related profiles

- [GPTBot](https://apostl.dev/bots/gptbot)
- [ChatGPT-User](https://apostl.dev/bots/chatgpt-user)

[Start measuring agent traffic](https://apostl.dev/start/agent-analytics)