# LinkedIn profile

> A member's public profile: headline, about, experience, education, latest posts and articles.

- **Request:** `GET https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/linkedin/profile`
- **Auth:** `x-api-key` header ([get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard))
- **Cost:** 1 credit per call. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)).
- **MCP tool:** `linkedin_profile` on `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp`
- **Freshness:** responses are cached for up to 6 hours
- **Try it live:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/linkedin/profile#try (no signup)
- **Platform:** [LinkedIn](https://lurkapi.com/docs/linkedin.md) (linkedin.com)
- **Web page:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/linkedin/profile

## When to use this

Returns what LinkedIn shows a logged-out visitor. For most members that is the name, location, photo, follower and connection counts, the start of About, the current company, some schools and their latest posts; LinkedIn hides their headline and blurs the rest of their work history, which `experienceHidden` reports and no logged-out request can read. Creators and public figures show their headline, full experience with descriptions, and education with degrees. Hidden values are null, never asterisks. LinkedIn answers a profile it won't show logged-out visitors exactly like one that doesn't exist, so both are a free `upstream_error`, not `not_found`: check the URL if it persists. Contact info and activity beyond the latest posts need a login; skills, certifications, volunteering and recommendations aren't included.

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `url` | string | yes |  |  | Public profile URL, e.g. https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates. Country subdomains such as uk.linkedin.com work too. | `https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates` |

## Example request

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your key, or set `LURKAPI_KEY` for the code. [Get a free key](https://lurkapi.com/login?next=/dashboard).

curl:

```bash
curl "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/linkedin/profile?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fwilliamhgates" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

JavaScript:

```js
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  url: "https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/linkedin/profile?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data.experience);
```

Python:

```python
import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/linkedin/profile",
    params={
        "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates",
    },
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["LURKAPI_KEY"]},
    timeout=60,
)
data = res.json()
if not data["success"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{data['code']}: {data['error']}")
print(data["experience"])
```

## Example response

A real response from this endpoint, captured from the live API and trimmed to a couple of items. Strings over 96 characters (mostly signed media URLs) are cut short and end in `…`.

200 OK (application/json):

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 999999,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "id": "251749025",
  "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates",
  "name": "Bill Gates",
  "headline": "Chair, Gates Foundation and Founder, Breakthrough Energy",
  "location": "Seattle, Washington, United States",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "image": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5603AQF-RYZP55jmXA/profile-display…",
  "coverImage": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5616AQEjhPbTCeblYg/profile-display…",
  "followers": 40736671,
  "connections": 8,
  "about": "Chair of the Gates Foundation. Founder of Breakthrough Energy. Co-founde…",
  "experienceHidden": false,
  "experience": [
    {
      "title": "Co-chair",
      "company": "Gates Foundation",
      "companyUrl": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/gates-foundation",
      "companyLogo": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D560BAQEgMqqFTd40Tg/company-logo_10…",
      "location": null,
      "startDate": "2000",
      "endDate": null,
      "duration": "26 years",
      "description": null
    },
    {
      "title": "Founder",
      "company": "Breakthrough Energy",
      "companyUrl": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrough-energy",
      "companyLogo": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D560BAQFRMYiQN7-2kA/company-logo_10…",
      "location": null,
      "startDate": "2015",
      "endDate": null,
      "duration": "11 years",
      "description": null
    }
  ],
  "education": [
    {
      "school": "Harvard University",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/school/harvard-university/",
      "logo": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4E0BAQF5t62bcL0e9g/company-logo_10…",
      "degree": null,
      "field": null,
      "startDate": "1973",
      "endDate": "1975"
    },
    {
      "school": "Lakeside School",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/school/lakeside-school/",
      "logo": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D560BAQGFmOQmzpxg9A/company-logo_10…",
      "degree": null,
      "field": null,
      "startDate": null,
      "endDate": null
    }
  ],
  "posts": [
    {
      "id": "7517635773937025025",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/williamhgates_we-can-drastically-cut-avia…",
      "text": "Contrails.org is doing amazing research and developing software (includi…",
      "datePublished": "2026-10-18T17:20:39.424Z",
      "likeCount": 985
    },
    {
      "id": "7517390588447621121",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/williamhgates_made-in-africa-new-measles-…",
      "text": "With measles outbreaks rising around the world, catching cases early mak…",
      "datePublished": "2026-10-18T01:06:22.648Z",
      "likeCount": 854
    }
  ],
  "articles": [
    {
      "title": "For an affordable climate win, look to the sky",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/affordable-climate-win-look-sky-bill-gates-eoj7e",
      "datePublished": "2026-10-12T20:10:59.000Z",
      "likeCount": 3899,
      "image": null
    },
    {
      "title": "AI, equity, and the choice we can’t delay",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-equity-choice-we-cant-delay-bill-gates-d1gte",
      "datePublished": "2026-09-17T15:18:20.000Z",
      "likeCount": 2999,
      "image": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D4E12AQFwjr3EOC2slQ/article-cover_i…"
    }
  ],
  "similarProfiles": [
    {
      "name": "Melinda French Gates",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagates",
      "headline": "Pivotal",
      "location": "United States",
      "image": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5603AQEnhirBBhb5kg/profile-display…"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tyler Alterman",
      "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyleralterman",
      "headline": "Fractal University",
      "location": "Brooklyn, NY",
      "image": "https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D4D03AQHicg8rnDPxbQ/profile-display…"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Response fields

Every field of a successful response. `[]` marks a list: `a[].b` is the `b` of each item in `a`. **nullable** fields can be `null`; **optional** fields can be missing.

| 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). |
| `id` | `string`, nullable | LinkedIn member id, when the page exposes it. |
| `url` | `string` | Canonical public profile URL. |
| `name` | `string` | Member's full name. |
| `headline` | `string`, nullable | Headline under the name, e.g. their role and company. Null when LinkedIn hides it, as it does for members whose work history it blurs. |
| `location` | `string`, nullable | Location as LinkedIn shows it, e.g. Seattle, Washington, United States. |
| `countryCode` | `string`, nullable | Two-letter country code from the profile's address. |
| `image` | `string`, nullable | Profile photo URL; may expire. |
| `coverImage` | `string`, nullable | Background banner URL; may expire. |
| `followers` | `number`, nullable | Exact follower count. |
| `connections` | `number`, nullable | Connections LinkedIn shows. It shows 500 or more as 500+, returned as 500. |
| `about` | `string`, nullable | The About section. LinkedIn cuts it short, ending in …, for most members. |
| `experienceHidden` | `boolean` | True when LinkedIn blurs this member's work history for logged-out visitors, as it does for most members. experience then holds only the current positions LinkedIn reveals, with hidden titles as null. |
| `experience` | `object[]` | Positions in LinkedIn's order, newest first. Hidden entries are left out. |
| `experience[].title` | `string`, nullable | Job title; null when LinkedIn hides it. |
| `experience[].company` | `string`, nullable | Company or organization name. |
| `experience[].companyUrl` | `string`, nullable | The organization's LinkedIn page. |
| `experience[].companyLogo` | `string`, nullable | Organization logo URL; may expire. |
| `experience[].location` | `string`, nullable | Where the role is based, when shown. |
| `experience[].startDate` | `string`, nullable | Start of the role: YYYY-MM, or YYYY when LinkedIn shows only the year. |
| `experience[].endDate` | `string`, nullable | End of the role: null while it's current or when not shown; YYYY-MM, or YYYY when LinkedIn shows only the year. |
| `experience[].duration` | `string`, nullable | Tenure as LinkedIn shows it, e.g. 12 years 9 months. |
| `experience[].description` | `string`, nullable | The role's description, when public. |
| `education` | `object[]` | Education in LinkedIn's order. Hidden entries are left out. |
| `education[].school` | `string` | School name. |
| `education[].url` | `string`, nullable | The school's LinkedIn page. |
| `education[].logo` | `string`, nullable | School logo URL; may expire. |
| `education[].degree` | `string`, nullable | Degree, e.g. Bachelor's Degree. |
| `education[].field` | `string`, nullable | Field of study. |
| `education[].startDate` | `string`, nullable | Start: YYYY-MM, or YYYY when LinkedIn shows only the year. |
| `education[].endDate` | `string`, nullable | End: YYYY-MM, or YYYY when LinkedIn shows only the year. |
| `posts` | `object[]` | The member's latest public posts and reposts with commentary that LinkedIn shows on the profile, usually up to 8. Not a complete history. |
| `posts[].id` | `string` | Activity id, kept as a string to preserve all digits. |
| `posts[].url` | `string` | Public post URL. |
| `posts[].text` | `string` | Post text. Empty when the post only contains media. |
| `posts[].datePublished` | `string`, nullable | Publication time in UTC. |
| `posts[].likeCount` | `number`, nullable | Reactions LinkedIn shows. |
| `articles` | `object[]` | Newsletter and long-form articles the member published, latest first, as many as the profile shows (often up to 10). |
| `articles[].title` | `string` | Article headline. |
| `articles[].url` | `string` | Article URL on linkedin.com/pulse. |
| `articles[].datePublished` | `string`, nullable | Publication time in UTC. |
| `articles[].likeCount` | `number`, nullable | Reactions LinkedIn shows. |
| `articles[].image` | `string`, nullable | Cover image URL; may expire. |
| `similarProfiles` | `object[]` | Other profiles LinkedIn suggests next to this one. Empty when the page has none. |
| `similarProfiles[].name` | `string` | Member's name. |
| `similarProfiles[].url` | `string` | Their public profile URL. |
| `similarProfiles[].headline` | `string`, nullable | Their headline or current company, as the card shows it. |
| `similarProfiles[].location` | `string`, nullable | Their location. |
| `similarProfiles[].image` | `string`, nullable | Profile photo URL; may expire. |

## Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 6 hours, so a repeat call within that window can return the same data. It still costs 1 credit.

## Errors

Errors return `{ success: false, error, code, docs }` with the HTTP status below. Validation errors, `401`/`402`/`429` rejections and `5xx` failures are free; `not_found` is charged ([how charging works](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#credits)). [All error codes](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#errors).

| Status | Code | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `missing_api_key` | No API key. Send it in the `x-api-key` header. |
| 401 | `invalid_api_key` | The key is unknown or was revoked. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | Not enough credits for this call. Buy a pack or wait for tomorrow's top-up. |
| 403 | `account_suspended` | This account is suspended. Contact support@lurkapi.com. Never charged. |
| 405 | `method_not_allowed` | Endpoints take GET with query params. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Too many calls at once. Wait for the `retry-after` seconds, then retry. |
| 500 | `internal_error` | Something broke on our side. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 502 | `upstream_error` | The platform didn't give a usable answer. Retry; 5xx errors are free. |
| 503 | `upstream_busy` | All our connections to the platform are busy. Retry in a few seconds; 5xx errors are free. |
| 504 | `upstream_timeout` | The platform took over 30 seconds to answer (90 for web pages). Retry; timeouts are free. |

## Use it in Claude

Once LurkAPI is [connected to Claude](https://lurkapi.com/docs.md#claude), this endpoint is the `linkedin_profile` tool. Ask in plain English, for example:

Ask Claude:

```text
Use LurkAPI's linkedin_profile with url "https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates" and summarize what you find.
```

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

Tool arguments:

```json
{
  "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates"
}
```

Tool results are compact to save tokens: no nulls or empty lists, one URL per image or video, 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 rest, and later parts are free for 15 minutes. `trim=false` returns the full response.

---

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