Docs · Subreddit posts

Subreddit posts

A subreddit's feed (hot, new, top, rising or best), with titles, text, scores and comment counts.

1 credit per callFresh within 1 minuteMCP tool: reddit_subreddit_posts

GEThttps://api.lurkapi.com/v1/reddit/subreddit

When to use this

Use it to track what a community talks about: one page of its feed, sorted as on reddit.com, with each post's title, text, score and comment count. timeframe only applies with sort=top.

Pagination. About 25 posts per page. Pass the response's after back as after for the next page; it's null at the end.

Missing, private and banned subreddits return an empty posts list.

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/reddit/subreddit?subreddit=marketing" \
  -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({
  subreddit: "marketing",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/reddit/subreddit?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_API_KEY },
});
const data = await res.json();
if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
console.log(data.posts);

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/reddit/subreddit",
    params={
        "subreddit": "marketing",
    },
    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["posts"])

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("subreddit", "marketing")
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/reddit/subreddit?"+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["posts"], "", "  ")
	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([
    'subreddit' => 'marketing',
]);
$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/reddit/subreddit?' . $params, false, $context);
$data = json_decode($body, true);
if (!$data['success']) {
    throw new Exception("{$data['code']}: {$data['error']}");
}
print_r($data['posts']);

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/reddit/subreddit')
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(
  'subreddit' => 'marketing',
)
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['posts'])

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 ?, as in ?subreddit=marketing. Join several with &.

Parameter	Description
`subreddit` stringrequired	Subreddit name without r/, e.g. `marketing`. Example `marketing`
`sort` stringoptional	Feed order, as on reddit.com. One of `besthotnewtoprising` Default `hot`
`timeframe` stringoptional	Time window for `sort=top`: hour, day, week, month, year or all. One of `allhourdayweekmonthyear` Default `all`
`after` stringoptional	The `after` from the previous response, to get the next page.
`trim` booleanoptional	`true` omits `selftext_html` for a smaller response. One of `truefalse` Default `false`

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": 999959,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "posts": [
    {
      "id": "1wvg2hm",
      "name": "t3_1wvg2hm",
      "title": "A hard truth I’m discovering",
      "author": "mikysupergirl",
      "author_fullname": "t2_1ft0fg7lvh",
      "subreddit": "marketing",
      "subreddit_id": "t5_2qhmg",
      "subreddit_name_prefixed": "r/marketing",
      "permalink": "/r/marketing/comments/1wvg2hm/a_hard_truth_im_discovering/",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/marketing/comments/1wvg2hm/a_hard_truth_im_discovering/",
      "domain": "self.marketing",
      "score": 34,
      "ups": 34,
      "upvote_ratio": 0.9,
      "num_comments": 32,
      "created": 1790901601,
      "created_utc": 1790901601,
      "is_self": true,
      "is_video": false,
      "over_18": false,
      "spoiler": false,
      "stickied": false,
      "locked": false,
      "link_flair_text": "Discussion",
      "link_flair_background_color": "#DADADA",
      "selftext": "I’m a marketing professional with +15 years experience in advertising th…",
      "selftext_html": "<p>I’m a marketing professional with +15 years experience in advertising…",
      "thumbnail": null,
      "total_awards_received": 0,
      "crosspost_parent_list": null,
      "poll_data": null,
      "gallery_data": null,
      "media": null
    },
    {
      "id": "1wuua6v",
      "name": "t3_1wuua6v",
      "title": "Are 6 rounds of interviews too much?",
      "author": "OkIce8958",
      "author_fullname": "t2_22zyc4v866",
      "subreddit": "marketing",
      "subreddit_id": "t5_2qhmg",
      "subreddit_name_prefixed": "r/marketing",
      "permalink": "/r/marketing/comments/1wuua6v/are_6_rounds_of_interviews_too_much/",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/marketing/comments/1wuua6v/are_6_rounds_of_interviews_too_much/",
      "domain": "self.marketing",
      "score": 98,
      "ups": 98,
      "upvote_ratio": 0.98,
      "num_comments": 117,
      "created": 1790844412,
      "created_utc": 1790844412,
      "is_self": true,
      "is_video": false,
      "over_18": false,
      "spoiler": false,
      "stickied": false,
      "locked": false,
      "link_flair_text": "Question",
      "link_flair_background_color": "#94E044",
      "selftext": "Hi folks, I've applied for a Strategic Marketing Manager position in an …",
      "selftext_html": "<p>Hi folks, I&#39;ve applied for a Strategic Marketing Manager position…",
      "thumbnail": null,
      "total_awards_received": 0,
      "crosspost_parent_list": null,
      "poll_data": null,
      "gallery_data": null,
      "media": null
    }
  ],
  "after": "t3_1wohura"
}

Response fields

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

Show all 65 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).
posts	object[]	One page of posts, in feed order.
posts[].id	string	Post id, e.g. `1wtfnyr`.
posts[].name	string	Fullname, `t3_` + id. Subreddit listings paginate with it.
posts[].title	string	Post title.
posts[].author	stringcan be null	Username, without u/; null if unknown.
posts[].author_fullname	stringcan be null	Author's account fullname, `t2_` + id; null if unknown.
posts[].subreddit	string	Subreddit name without r/, e.g. `marketing`.
posts[].subreddit_id	stringcan be null	Subreddit fullname, `t5_` + id.
posts[].subreddit_name_prefixed	stringcan be null	Subreddit name with the r/ prefix, e.g. `r/marketing`.
posts[].permalink	string	Path on reddit.com; prepend https://www.reddit.com.
posts[].url	string	The link a link post points to (the original post for crossposts), or the post itself for text posts.
posts[].url_overridden_by_dest	stringmay be missing	Outbound link, on link posts only.
posts[].domain	stringcan be null	`self.<subreddit>` for text posts, else the linked site.
posts[].selftext	string	Post body as plain text. Empty for link, media and crosspost posts.
posts[].selftext_html	stringcan be null · may be missing	Post body as HTML. Omitted with trim=true.
posts[].score	number	Upvotes minus downvotes.
posts[].ups	number	Same as score.
posts[].upvote_ratio	numbercan be null	Share of votes that are upvotes, 0–1.
posts[].num_comments	number	Comment count when fetched.
posts[].created	number	Posted at, Unix seconds.
posts[].created_utc	number	Posted at, Unix seconds.
posts[].is_self	boolean	A text post rather than a link.
posts[].is_video	boolean	A video post.
posts[].is_gallery	booleanmay be missing	Present (true) on image galleries; absent otherwise.
posts[].over_18	boolean	Marked NSFW.
posts[].spoiler	boolean	Marked as a spoiler.
posts[].stickied	boolean	Pinned by moderators.
posts[].locked	boolean	Locked: no new comments allowed.
posts[].link_flair_text	stringcan be null	Post flair, e.g. "Question"; null without flair.
posts[].link_flair_background_color	stringcan be null	Flair color as a hex code, e.g. #94E044; null without flair.
posts[].thumbnail	stringcan be null	Preview image URL; null for posts without media.
posts[].total_awards_received	number	Awards the post received.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list	object[]can be null	On crossposts, the original post as a one-item list (Reddit's shape), with what the card shows: no author or body. null otherwise.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].id	string	The original post's id, e.g. `1ww1x9d`.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].name	string	Its fullname, `t3_` + id.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].title	string	Its title.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].subreddit	string	Its subreddit, without r/.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].subreddit_name_prefixed	string	Its subreddit with the r/ prefix, e.g. `r/soccer`.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].permalink	string	Its path on reddit.com. Pass it to post comments for its body and replies.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].score	numbercan be null	Its upvotes minus downvotes; null if the card doesn't show them.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].num_comments	numbercan be null	Its comment count; null if the card doesn't show it.
posts[].crosspost_parent_list[].created_utc	numbercan be null	Posted at, Unix seconds; null if the card doesn't show it.
posts[].poll_data	objectcan be null	Poll options and votes; null for other posts.
posts[].poll_data.options	object[]	Options in display order.
posts[].poll_data.options[].id	stringcan be null	Option id; null on closed polls, which reddit.com shows without ids.
posts[].poll_data.options[].text	string	Option text.
posts[].poll_data.options[].vote_count	numbercan be null	Votes for this option; null while the poll is open (Reddit shows them once it closes).
posts[].poll_data.total_vote_count	numbercan be null	Votes cast.
posts[].poll_data.voting_end_timestamp	numbercan be null	When voting closes, Unix milliseconds as in Reddit's JSON; null once closed.
posts[].gallery_data	objectcan be null	Every image of a gallery post (on crossposts, the original's); null otherwise.
posts[].gallery_data.items	object[]	Images in gallery order.
posts[].gallery_data.items[].url	string	Full-size image URL (i.redd.it), or a preview if that's all the page has.
posts[].gallery_data.items[].width	numbercan be null	Original width in pixels.
posts[].gallery_data.items[].height	numbercan be null	Original height in pixels.
posts[].media	objectcan be null	Reddit-hosted video (v.redd.it; on crossposts, the original's); null otherwise, including YouTube and other embeds.
posts[].media.reddit_video	object	The video's streams.
posts[].media.reddit_video.hls_url	string	HLS playlist with video and audio, as reddit.com plays it.
posts[].media.reddit_video.fallback_url	stringcan be null	Largest MP4 with audio. A signed link that expires within hours; null when reddit.com offers none.
posts[].media.reddit_video.width	numbercan be null	That MP4's width in pixels.
posts[].media.reddit_video.height	numbercan be null	That MP4's height in pixels.
posts[].media.reddit_video.duration	numbercan be null	Length in seconds.
after	stringcan be null	Pass as `after` for the next page. null on the last page.

Pagination

Results come in pages. For the next page, repeat the call with the same parameters and add the response's after as after. On the last page, after is null. Each page costs 1 credit.

The first five pages, in JavaScript

let after = null;for (let page = 1; page <= 5; page++) {const params = new URLSearchParams({ subreddit: "marketing" });if (after) params.set("after", after);const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/reddit/subreddit?${params}`, {headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_API_KEY },});const data = await res.json();if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);console.log(data.posts);after = data.after;if (!after) break; // last page}

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 1 minute. 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.
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 reddit_subreddit_posts tool. For example:

Ask Claude

Use LurkAPI's reddit_subreddit_posts tool with subreddit "marketing", then summarize what you find.

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

Tool arguments

{"subreddit": "marketing"}

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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