Overview
Kernel Search is a search crawler operated by Kernel Technologies, Inc. to build search indexes and retrieval databases.
Its documented user-agent token is KernelSearchBot.
Kernel Search is verified with High confidence through HTTP Message Signatures and first-party Kernel documentation.
Kernel documents that Kernel Search follows robots.txt directives for the KernelSearchBot token, including crawl-delay preferences.
It can normally be allowed when search indexing is desired, while rate and source behavior should still be monitored.
Identity
- User-Agent Pattern
-
KernelSearchBot - Aliases
- Kernel Search; KernelSearchBot
- HTTP Agent Examples
-
KernelSearchBot/1.0 (+https://www.kernel.sh/docs/bots) - Robots Token
- KernelSearchBot
- Identity Type
- HTTP message signature
- Evidence Method
- Verify Kernel Search through Web Bot Auth using the `https://search.bot.kernel.sh` Signature-Agent identity and its published key directory.
Classification
- Type
- AI search
- Kind
- Crawler
- Family
- Kernel
- Purpose
- AI search indexing
Behavior and handling
- Common Use
- Builds search indexes and retrieval databases for Kernel search services.
- Detection Notes
- Match `KernelSearchBot`, then verify the HTTP Message Signature. Kernel distinguishes this direct crawler from its separate user-directed Kernel Agent identity.
- Respects robots.txt
- Yes
- Spoofing Risk
- Low when the HTTP Message Signature is verified; high when relying only on the user-agent token.
- Risk
- Safe
- Recommended Handling
- Do not block
Rules and controls
- Robots.txt Snippet
-
User-agent: KernelSearchBot Disallow: /
Relationships
- Operator
- Kernel Technologies, Inc. Checked 2026-08-05
Relationships without an Evidence link are normalized from the canonical directory record. They should not be interpreted as independent proof of physical presence or request origin.