Docs · Post

Post

A public photo, carousel, video or reel with its caption and counts.

1 credit per callFresh within 5 minutesMCP tool: instagram_post

GEThttps://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post

When to use this

Use it to read one post or reel: caption, author, media, tagged accounts, location and the counts a logged-out visitor sees. Pass a post URL or shortcode. For its comments, use post comments (instagram_post_comments).

A missing post returns 404 not_found and a private one 403 not_public. Media links expire, so save what you need.

Example request

Copy one and replace YOUR_API_KEY with your API key (get one free). The code versions read the key from the LURKAPI_API_KEY environment variable instead.

curl "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Freel%2FDdl5eH-u4le%2F" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Paste it into a terminal, with your key in place of YOUR_API_KEY.

const params = new URLSearchParams({
  url: "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_API_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data);

Node 18+. Save it as lurk.mjs and run node lurk.mjs. It reads your key from LURKAPI_API_KEY.

import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post",
    params={
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/",
    },
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["LURKAPI_API_KEY"]},
    timeout=60,
)
data = res.json()
if not data["success"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{data['code']}: {data['error']}")
print(data)

Run pip install requests, save it as lurk.py and run python lurk.py. It reads your key from LURKAPI_API_KEY.

package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"net/http"
	"net/url"
	"os"
	"time"
)

func main() {
	params := url.Values{}
	params.Set("url", "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/")
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post?"+params.Encode(), nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("LURKAPI_API_KEY"))

	client := &http.Client{Timeout: 60 * time.Second}
	res, err := client.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	var data map[string]any
	if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&data); err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	if data["success"] != true {
		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%v: %v", data["code"], data["error"]))
	}
	out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(data, "", "  ")
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Save it as main.go and run go run main.go. It reads your key from LURKAPI_API_KEY.

<?php
$params = http_build_query([
    'url' => 'https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/',
]);
$context = stream_context_create(['http' => [
    'header' => 'x-api-key: ' . getenv('LURKAPI_API_KEY'),
    'timeout' => 60,
    'ignore_errors' => true,
]]);
$body = file_get_contents('https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post?' . $params, false, $context);
$data = json_decode($body, true);
if (!$data['success']) {
    throw new Exception("{$data['code']}: {$data['error']}");
}
print_r($data);

Save it as lurk.php and run php lurk.php. It reads your key from LURKAPI_API_KEY.

require 'json'
require 'net/http'

uri = URI('https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/instagram/post')
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(
  'url' => 'https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/',
)
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['x-api-key'] = ENV.fetch('LURKAPI_API_KEY')
res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: uri.scheme == 'https', read_timeout: 60) do |http|
  http.request(req)
end
data = JSON.parse(res.body)
raise "#{data['code']}: #{data['error']}" unless data['success']
puts JSON.pretty_generate(data)

Save it as lurk.rb and run ruby lurk.rb. It reads your key from LURKAPI_API_KEY.

Parameters

Add them to the URL after a ?. Join several with &.

Parameter	Description
`code` stringoptional	The post's shortcode, the part after /p/ or /reel/ in its URL, e.g. `Ddl5eH-u4le`. Required unless you pass `url`.
`url` stringoptional	A post or reel URL (instagram.com/p/…, /reel/…, /reels/… or /tv/…), or just its shortcode. Required unless you pass `code`. Example `https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/`

Example response

A real response, captured from the live API. Lists are trimmed to a couple of items, and long text such as media links is cut short with ….

Show the example response (3 KB)

{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 99,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "data": {
    "pk": "3991849403537918302",
    "media_type": 2,
    "display_url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/809201733_186664…",
    "images": [
      {
        "url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/809201733_186664…",
        "width": 1080,
        "height": 1920
      }
    ],
    "videos": [
      {
        "url": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQNTYMwiQ36mUhGO…",
        "width": null,
        "height": null
      }
    ],
    "usertags": [
      {
        "user": {
          "pk": "306787899",
          "username": "nikebasketball",
          "full_name": "Nike Basketball",
          "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/476165648_5629502…",
          "is_verified": true
        },
        "position": {
          "x": 0.0653594807,
          "y": 0.0163398702
        }
      },
      {
        "user": {
          "pk": "1466972266",
          "username": "caitlinclark22",
          "full_name": "Caitlin Clark",
          "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/727280421_186017…",
          "is_verified": true
        },
        "position": null
      },
      {
        "user": {
          "pk": "5498065481",
          "username": "nickofferman",
          "full_name": "Nick Offerman",
          "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-19/500311139_183641…",
          "is_verified": true
        },
        "position": null
      }
    ],
    "code": "Ddl5eH-u4le",
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddl5eH-u4le/",
    "product_type": "clips",
    "caption": "*Just a normal day for @caitlinclark22.\n\nWake up. Eat cereal. Lace up th…",
    "taken_at": 1790085604,
    "like_count": 70022,
    "comment_count": 1108,
    "play_count": null,
    "view_count": null,
    "accessibility_caption": "Video by Nike on September 22, 2026. May be an image of text.",
    "user": {
      "pk": "13460080",
      "username": "nike",
      "full_name": "Nike",
      "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/551608484_185671…",
      "is_verified": true
    },
    "coauthor_producers": [
      {
        "pk": "306787899",
        "username": "nikebasketball",
        "full_name": "Nike Basketball",
        "profile_pic_url": "https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/476165648_5629502…",
        "is_verified": true
      }
    ],
    "is_paid_partnership": null,
    "location": null,
    "carousel_media": []
  }
}

Response fields

Every field in a successful response, and what it means. A name with [] belongs to each item of a list: data.images[].url is the url of every item in data.images. null means there's no value.

Show all 73 fields

Field	Type	Description
success	true	Always true here; errors have `success: false`.
credits_remaining	number	Your balance after this call. On anonymous playground calls: free tries left today.
credits_charged	number	Credits this call cost; 0 on free endpoints. On anonymous playground calls: tries used (1).
data	object	The requested post.
data.pk	string	Numeric media id, as a string.
data.media_type	number	Instagram media type: 1 photo, 2 video, 8 carousel.
data.display_url	stringcan be null	Preview image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.images	object[]	Available image sizes; empty when none are returned.
data.images[].url	string	Direct image URL; CDN links can expire.
data.images[].width	numbercan be null	Image width in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.images[].height	numbercan be null	Image height in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.videos	object[]	Available MP4 versions; empty for photos or when video URLs are unavailable.
data.videos[].url	string	Direct MP4 URL; CDN links can expire.
data.videos[].width	numbercan be null	Video width in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.videos[].height	numbercan be null	Video height in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.usertags	object[]can be null	Accounts tagged in this media, in Instagram's order; null when Instagram returns no tag list. On a carousel it lists every slide's tags; each carousel item has its own.
data.usertags[].user	object	The tagged account.
data.usertags[].user.pk	string	The account's numeric Instagram id, as a string.
data.usertags[].user.username	string	Instagram username, without @.
data.usertags[].user.full_name	stringcan be null	Display name; null when not returned.
data.usertags[].user.profile_pic_url	stringcan be null	Profile image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.usertags[].user.is_verified	booleancan be null	Whether Instagram shows a verified badge; null when not returned.
data.usertags[].position	objectcan be null	Where the tag sits on the image; null when Instagram gives none (video tags come as 0, 0).
data.usertags[].position.x	number	Distance from the left edge, as a fraction of the width (0 to 1).
data.usertags[].position.y	number	Distance from the top edge, as a fraction of the height (0 to 1).
data.code	string	The post's case-sensitive shortcode.
data.url	string	Canonical Instagram post URL.
data.product_type	stringcan be null	Instagram product type, e.g. clips for a reel or feed for a feed post; null when not returned.
data.caption	stringcan be null	Post caption as plain text, preserving line breaks; null when the post has no caption.
data.taken_at	numbercan be null	When it was posted, as Unix seconds; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.like_count	numbercan be null	Like count; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.comment_count	numbercan be null	Comment count; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.play_count	numbercan be null	Play count. Instagram usually leaves it out for logged-out visitors; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.view_count	numbercan be null	View count. Instagram usually leaves it out for logged-out visitors; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.accessibility_caption	stringcan be null	Instagram's accessibility description; null when not returned.
data.user	object	Post author.
data.user.pk	string	The account's numeric Instagram id, as a string.
data.user.username	string	Instagram username, without @.
data.user.full_name	stringcan be null	Display name; null when not returned.
data.user.profile_pic_url	stringcan be null	Profile image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.user.is_verified	booleancan be null	Whether Instagram shows a verified badge; null when not returned.
data.coauthor_producers	object[]	The post's co-authors; empty when there are none.
data.coauthor_producers[].pk	string	The account's numeric Instagram id, as a string.
data.coauthor_producers[].username	string	Instagram username, without @.
data.coauthor_producers[].full_name	stringcan be null	Display name; null when not returned.
data.coauthor_producers[].profile_pic_url	stringcan be null	Profile image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.coauthor_producers[].is_verified	booleancan be null	Whether Instagram shows a verified badge; null when not returned.
data.is_paid_partnership	booleancan be null	Whether Instagram marks the post as a paid partnership; null when not returned.
data.location	objectcan be null	Tagged location; null when none is returned.
data.location.pk	stringcan be null	Numeric location id; null when not returned.
data.location.name	stringcan be null	Location name; null when not returned.
data.carousel_media	object[]	Carousel items in order; empty for single-media posts.
data.carousel_media[].pk	string	Numeric media id, as a string.
data.carousel_media[].media_type	number	Instagram media type: 1 photo, 2 video, 8 carousel.
data.carousel_media[].display_url	stringcan be null	Preview image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.carousel_media[].images	object[]	Available image sizes; empty when none are returned.
data.carousel_media[].images[].url	string	Direct image URL; CDN links can expire.
data.carousel_media[].images[].width	numbercan be null	Image width in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.carousel_media[].images[].height	numbercan be null	Image height in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.carousel_media[].videos	object[]	Available MP4 versions; empty for photos or when video URLs are unavailable.
data.carousel_media[].videos[].url	string	Direct MP4 URL; CDN links can expire.
data.carousel_media[].videos[].width	numbercan be null	Video width in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.carousel_media[].videos[].height	numbercan be null	Video height in pixels; null when Instagram doesn't show it. Null doesn't mean zero.
data.carousel_media[].usertags	object[]can be null	Accounts tagged in this media, in Instagram's order; null when Instagram returns no tag list. On a carousel it lists every slide's tags; each carousel item has its own.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user	object	The tagged account.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user.pk	string	The account's numeric Instagram id, as a string.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user.username	string	Instagram username, without @.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user.full_name	stringcan be null	Display name; null when not returned.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user.profile_pic_url	stringcan be null	Profile image URL; CDN links can expire; null when not returned.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].user.is_verified	booleancan be null	Whether Instagram shows a verified badge; null when not returned.
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].position	objectcan be null	Where the tag sits on the image; null when Instagram gives none (video tags come as 0, 0).
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].position.x	number	Distance from the left edge, as a fraction of the width (0 to 1).
data.carousel_media[].usertags[].position.y	number	Distance from the top edge, as a fraction of the height (0 to 1).

Cost and freshness

Each call costs 1 credit. Calls turned away before they reach the platform (invalid parameters, a key or balance problem, a rate limit) are free, and so are 5xx errors. A not_found is charged, since the platform was checked. How charging works.

Answers are cached for up to 5 minutes. A repeat call within that time can return the same data, and costs the same.

Errors

A failed call returns success: false, an error message, a code your program can check, and a docs link. These are the errors this endpoint can return. All error codes.

Status	Code	Meaning
401	`missing_api_key`	No API key was sent. Put it in the `x-api-key` header.
401	`invalid_api_key`	This key doesn't exist or was revoked.
402	`insufficient_credits`	Not enough credits for this call. Buy a pack, or wait for tomorrow's free top-up.
402	`over_max_credits`	This call would cost more than the `max_credits` you set. The error says what it needs; raise `max_credits` to allow it. Not charged.
403	`account_suspended`	This account is suspended. Email support@lurkapi.com. Not charged.
403	`not_public`	The platform shows this account or post only to people who are logged in. Try a public one. Charged, since the platform was checked.
404	`not_found`	What you asked for (a post, an ad, a subreddit) doesn't exist, or there's no endpoint at that path. Charged if the platform was checked.
405	`method_not_allowed`	Endpoints only take `GET`, with parameters in the URL.
429	`rate_limited`	Too many calls in a short time. Wait as many seconds as the `retry-after` header says, then retry.
500	`internal_error`	Something broke on our side. Retry. Not charged.
502	`upstream_error`	The platform didn't send a usable answer. Retry. Not charged.
503	`upstream_busy`	All our connections to the platform are busy. Retry in a few seconds. Not charged.
504	`upstream_timeout`	The platform took over 30 seconds to answer (90 for web pages). Retry. Not charged.

Use it in Claude

Connect LurkAPI to Claude and ask in plain English. This endpoint is the instagram_post tool. For example:

Ask Claude

Use LurkAPI's instagram_post tool with url "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/", then summarize what you find.

Claude calls instagram_post with arguments like these, and each call costs 1 credit:

Tool arguments

{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/"}

To save tokens, tool results leave out empty fields, keep one URL per image or video, and give transcripts as plain text unless you pass timestamps=true. A result over 45,000 characters comes in parts. Its _note gives the offset for the next part, and later parts are free for 15 minutes. Pass trim=false for the full response.

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