Facebook Post API
Returns one Facebook post in full: the text, like, comment and share counts, a reactions breakdown, the media and whether it is a video or a photo, the author, and the group it was posted in.
GET /v1/facebook/postLast updated November 2026Maintained by the SocialCrawl team
When to use the Facebook Post API
Use it when you have a single post URL and need more than profile/posts gives, such as the reactions breakdown.
From the API reference
Returns detailed information about a specific Facebook post: the post text, like count, comment count, share count, media attachments, author info, and the per-reaction breakdown on post.ext.reaction_counts ([{type, count}], highest first, zero-count reactions omitted: like, love, care, haha, wow, sad, anger). post.ext.media_type is video for a reel or a video, image for a single photo, carousel for an album, and null for a text-only or link-share post. post.content.duration_seconds is a video's length when Facebook sends one. It is null on a photo and can also be null on an older /videos/ post, so use post.ext.media_type to tell a video from a photo. Only a video can have a transcript. /v1/facebook/post/transcript returns 404 no_captions at 0 credits on a photo or text post, and also on a video with no speech. post.ext.feedback_id is the join key /v1/facebook/post/comments accepts, so you can chain post to comments off a single lookup instead of paying for the URL resolution twice. A post published in a Facebook group also carries the group on post.ext.group: id is the group's key as its link spells it (the numeric id, or the vanity name a group set), and url is the canonical https://www.facebook.com/groups/<key>/ form that /v1/facebook/group and /v1/facebook/group/posts take. Both are read from the post's link, so they come at no extra cost on every group post, whichever link form you send (/permalink/, /posts/, ?story_fbid=, or the m. and web. hosts). post.ext.group.name and post.ext.group.members are null unless you send include=group, which looks the group up in the same call and fills its name and member count for 1 extra credit; the credit is kept only when the group's name comes back. A post that is not in a group has no post.ext.group and is never charged for the lookup.
Searching 69 platforms in parallel
What can you do with the Post API?
The Post endpoint gives you structured Facebook data with computed fields in a single request. No scraping infrastructure to build or maintain.
Example Request
# GET /v1/facebook/post: Metered: holds 1 credit per call up front and refunds what the call does not use. Cache hits are free and failed calls are refunded.
# Check the price first for 0 credits: add dry_run=1 to the query. Nothing is fetched or charged.
# --max-time 15: this endpoint's measured p99 latency x 1.5.
# --retry 3: retries timeouts, 429 and 5xx, honoring Retry-After.
# -o response.json keeps only the final attempt's body.
# One Idempotency-Key per request, reused on every retry, so a retried call is never charged twice.
IDEMPOTENCY_KEY=$(od -An -N16 -tx1 /dev/urandom | tr -d ' \n')
curl -sS --max-time 15 --retry 3 -o response.json \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Idempotency-Key: $IDEMPOTENCY_KEY" \
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/facebook/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOGCCopperfields%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02mAPifrgyzhGeAAhMGyNU4J2dFdFpAtTfb6p22yCQMHpzwqK9zh9XHS8Bm39tk7mwl" && cat response.json# GET /v1/facebook/post: Metered: holds 1 credit per call up front and refunds what the call does not use. Cache hits are free and failed calls are refunded.
# Check the price first for 0 credits: add dry_run=1 to the query. Nothing is fetched or charged.
import os
import random
import time
import uuid
import requests
API_KEY = os.environ.get("SOCIALCRAWL_API_KEY", "YOUR_API_KEY")
TIMEOUT_S = 15 # this endpoint's measured p99 latency x 1.5.
MAX_RETRIES = 3
URL = "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/facebook/post"
def backoff(attempt):
# Exponential backoff with jitter: about 1 s, 2 s, then 4 s.
return 2 ** attempt * (0.5 + random.random() / 2)
def socialcrawl(params):
# One Idempotency-Key per request, reused on every retry, so a retried call is never charged twice.
idempotency_key = str(uuid.uuid4())
for attempt in range(MAX_RETRIES + 1):
try:
res = requests.get(
URL,
params=params,
headers={"x-api-key": API_KEY, "Idempotency-Key": idempotency_key},
timeout=TIMEOUT_S,
)
body = res.json()
except (requests.RequestException, ValueError):
# A timeout, a dropped connection or a non-JSON gateway page: retry with the same key.
if attempt == MAX_RETRIES:
raise
time.sleep(backoff(attempt))
continue
if body["success"]:
return body
error = body["error"]
# Branch on error["type"], never on the message text.
if error["type"] == "RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND":
return None # refunded: nothing to read
retry_after = res.headers.get("Retry-After")
# SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE without Retry-After is a withdrawn endpoint: permanent.
permanent = error["type"] == "SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE" and retry_after is None
if not error.get("retryable") or permanent or attempt == MAX_RETRIES:
raise RuntimeError(f"{error['type']}: {error['message']} (request_id {body['request_id']})")
# Retry-After (seconds) wins; otherwise back off.
time.sleep(float(retry_after) if retry_after else backoff(attempt))
params = {
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/OGCCopperfields/posts/pfbid02mAPifrgyzhGeAAhMGyNU4J2dFdFpAtTfb6p22yCQMHpzwqK9zh9XHS8Bm39tk7mwl",
}
body = socialcrawl(params)
if body is not None:
print(body["data"])// GET /v1/facebook/post: Metered: holds 1 credit per call up front and refunds what the call does not use. Cache hits are free and failed calls are refunded.
// Check the price first for 0 credits: add dry_run=1 to the query. Nothing is fetched or charged.
const API_KEY = process.env.SOCIALCRAWL_API_KEY ?? "YOUR_API_KEY";
const TIMEOUT_MS = 15_000; // this endpoint's measured p99 latency x 1.5.
const MAX_RETRIES = 3;
type Page = { next_cursor: string | null; has_more: boolean };
type SocialCrawlResponse =
| { success: true; data: any; pagination?: Page; credits_used: number; request_id: string }
| { success: false; error: { type: string; message: string; retryable: boolean }; request_id: string };
const sleep = (ms: number) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
// Exponential backoff with jitter: about 1 s, 2 s, then 4 s.
const backoffMs = (attempt: number) => 2 ** attempt * 1000 * (0.5 + Math.random() / 2);
async function socialcrawl(url: URL) {
// One Idempotency-Key per request, reused on every retry, so a retried call is never charged twice.
const idempotencyKey = crypto.randomUUID();
for (let attempt = 0; ; attempt++) {
let res: Response;
let body: SocialCrawlResponse;
try {
res = await fetch(url, {
headers: {
"x-api-key": API_KEY,
"Idempotency-Key": idempotencyKey,
},
signal: AbortSignal.timeout(TIMEOUT_MS),
});
body = (await res.json()) as SocialCrawlResponse;
} catch (error) {
// A timeout, a dropped connection or a non-JSON gateway page: retry with the same key.
if (attempt >= MAX_RETRIES) throw error;
await sleep(backoffMs(attempt));
continue;
}
if (body.success) return body;
// Branch on error.type, never on the message text.
if (body.error.type === "RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND") return null; // refunded: nothing to read
const retryAfter = res.headers.get("Retry-After");
// SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE without Retry-After is a withdrawn endpoint: permanent.
const permanent = body.error.type === "SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE" && retryAfter === null;
if (!body.error.retryable || permanent || attempt >= MAX_RETRIES) {
throw new Error(`${body.error.type}: ${body.error.message} (request_id ${body.request_id})`);
}
// Retry-After (seconds) wins; otherwise back off.
await sleep(retryAfter ? Number(retryAfter) * 1000 : backoffMs(attempt));
}
}
const url = new URL("https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/facebook/post");
url.searchParams.set("url", "https://www.facebook.com/OGCCopperfields/posts/pfbid02mAPifrgyzhGeAAhMGyNU4J2dFdFpAtTfb6p22yCQMHpzwqK9zh9XHS8Bm39tk7mwl");
const body = await socialcrawl(url);
if (body) console.log(body.data);Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| url | Yes | Full URL of the Facebook post, reel or video. A share link from Facebook's Copy link (`https://www.facebook.com/share/v/…`, `/share/p/…`, `/share/r/…` or `/share/…`) is accepted and resolved to the post it names. |
| get_comments | No | Accepted for backwards compatibility and currently a NO-OP: this endpoint returns the same body with or without it. Use `/v1/facebook/post/comments` (1 credit) for comments, passing the `post.ext.feedback_id` this response returns. |
| get_transcript | No | Accepted for backwards compatibility and currently a NO-OP: this endpoint returns the same body with or without it. Use `/v1/facebook/post/transcript` for a video transcript. |
| include | No | Set to `group` (one token only) to fill `post.ext.group.name` and `post.ext.group.members` (the member count) on a post published in a Facebook group, in this one call. It costs 1 extra credit, kept only when the group's name comes back: a post that is not in a group, a lookup that fails and a group already in cache are refunded, so the call is never more than 2 credits. The lookup adds about 3 to 7 seconds when it runs, never more than 12, and nothing when the group is cached; read `data.hydration` for the credits held and kept and the time. The group's `id` and `url` are on every group post without it. (group) |
What does the Facebook Post API return?
Every response follows one unified schema. Here is a real, unmodified response body, so you can see the exact fields you get back before spending a credit.
Example response
{
"success": true,
"platform": "youtube",
"endpoint": "/v1/youtube/video",
"data": {
"post": {
"id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"content": {
"text": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
"thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/hqdefault.jpg",
"duration_seconds": 214,
"media_urls": "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuAXFkgsw1L7xaCfnd5JJOw"
},
"author": {
"username": "UCuAXFkgsw1L7xaCfnd5JJOw",
"display_name": "Rick Astley",
"avatar_url": null,
"verified": null
},
"engagement": {
"views": 1789065639,
"likes": 19216844,
"comments": 2443809,
"shares": null,
"saves": null
},
"published_at": "2009-10-25T06:57:33Z",
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"ext": {
"content_type": "video",
"tags": [
"rick astley",
"Never Gonna Give You Up",
"nggyu",
"never gonna give you up lyrics",
"rick rolled",
"Rick Roll",
"rick astley official",
"rickrolled",
"Fortnite song",
"Fortnite event",
"Fortnite dance",
"fortnite never gonna give you up",
"rick roll",
"rickrolling",
"rick rolling",
"never gonna give you up",
"80s music",
"rick astley new",
"animated video",
"rickroll",
"meme songs",
"never gonna give u up lyrics",
"Rick Astley 2022",
"never gonna let you down",
"animated",
"rick rolls 2022",
"never gonna give you up karaoke"
],
"categoryId": "10",
"categoryTitle": "Music",
"topicCategories": [
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_music",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_music"
],
"duration": "PT3M34S",
"license": "youtube",
"madeForKids": false,
"defaultAudioLanguage": "en",
"hasPaidProductPlacement": false,
"caption": "true",
"description": "The official video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. \n\nNever: The Autobiography 📚 OUT NOW! \nFollow this link to get your copy and listen to Rick’s ‘Never’ playlist ❤️ #RickAstleyNever\nhttps://linktr.ee/rickastleynever\n\n“Never Gonna Give You Up” was a global smash on its release in July 1987, topping the charts in 25 countries including Rick’s native UK and the US Billboard Hot 100. It also won the Brit Award for Best single in 1988. Stock Aitken and Waterman wrote and produced the track which was the lead-off single and lead track from Rick’s debut LP “Whenever You Need Somebody”. The album was itself a UK number one and would go on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.\n\nThe legendary video was directed by Simon West – who later went on to make Hollywood blockbusters such as Con Air, Lara Croft – Tomb Raider and The Expendables 2. The video passed the 1bn YouTube views milestone on 28 July 2021.\n\nSubscribe to the official Rick Astley YouTube channel: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/YTSubID\n\nFollow Rick Astley:\nFacebook: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/FBFollowID \nTwitter: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TwitterID \nInstagram: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/InstagramID \nWebsite: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/storeID \nTikTok: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/TikTokID\n\nListen to Rick Astley:\nSpotify: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/SpotifyID \nApple Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AppleMusicID \nAmazon Music: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/AmazonMusicID \nDeezer: https://RickAstley.lnk.to/DeezerID \n\nLyrics:\nWe’re no strangers to love\nYou know the rules and so do I\nA full commitment’s what I’m thinking of\nYou wouldn’t get this from any other guy\n\nI just wanna tell you how I’m feeling\nGotta make you understand\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\nWe’ve known each other for so long\nYour heart’s been aching but you’re too shy to say it\nInside we both know what’s been going on\nWe know the game and we’re gonna play it\n\nAnd if you ask me how I’m feeling\nDon’t tell me you’re too blind to see\n\nNever gonna give you up\nNever gonna let you down\nNever gonna run around and desert you\nNever gonna make you cry\nNever gonna say goodbye\nNever gonna tell a lie and hurt you\n\n#RickAstley #NeverGonnaGiveYouUp #WheneverYouNeedSomebody #OfficialMusicVideo",
"default_language": "en"
},
"flags": {
"deleted": false,
"nsfw": null,
"spoiler": null,
"pinned": null
}
},
"computed": {
"engagement_rate": 0.012107,
"language": "en",
"content_category": "entertainment",
"estimated_reach": 2146878767
}
},
"credits_used": 1,
"credits_remaining": 9999,
"request_id": "req-8Kq2ZmR4vT9xLb3P",
"cached": false,
"redacted": true
}Example captured from the YouTube API. Every SocialCrawl endpoint returns this same unified schema, so your Facebook Post response has the same fields.
How does the Facebook Post API work?
Send a GET request with your API key and get back clean, structured JSON in our unified schema. Supported computed fields are populated when the source provides the required inputs.
Method
GET
Response
JSON
How do you scrape social media data in seconds?
The fastest social media scraping API for developers. Scrape profiles, posts, comments, and analytics from 69 platforms covering 10B+ monthly active users.
One schema, every platform
Query 69 platforms with identical response structures. Write your integration once.
Computed fields, not just scraped
When an endpoint supports these metrics and the source provides the required inputs, the normalized record includes engagement_rate, estimated_reach, content_category, and language. Ready to use.
See your data before you code
Visual Data Explorer. Paste any URL, get rich result cards, sortable tables, CSV export.
import requests
response = requests.get(
'https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/tiktok/profile',
params={'handle': 'charlidamelio'},
headers={'x-api-key': 'sc_YOUR_API_KEY'}
)
data = response.json(){
"success": true,
"platform": "tiktok",
"data": {
"author": {
"username": "charlidamelio",
"followers": 152400000
},
"engagement": {
"likes": 12400000000,
"engagement_rate": 0.087
},
"metadata": {
"language": "en",
"content_category": "lifestyle"
}
}
}Have a question? We got answers
Find answers to frequently asked questions about SocialCrawl's API, pricing, and capabilities.
Contact usHow do I get a Facebook post's details with an API?
What reactions data does the endpoint return?
Can I get the first comments with the post?
Does it work for video posts?
How fast is the Facebook Post API?
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