# Channel posts

> A public channel's latest posts, newest first, with text, views, media, links and reactions.

- **Request:** `GET https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/telegram/channel/posts`
- **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:** `telegram_channel_posts` on `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp`
- **Freshness:** responses are cached for up to 5 minutes
- **Try it live:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/telegram/channel-posts#try (no signup)
- **Platform:** [Telegram](https://lurkapi.com/docs/telegram.md) (t.me)
- **Web page:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/telegram/channel-posts

## When to use this

Use it to monitor what a channel publishes and how far each post reaches. About 20 posts per page, newest first.

**Pagination.** Pass the response's `cursor` back as `cursor` for older posts; it's null at the channel's first post.

Unknown channels return 404 `not_found`. Channels with their web preview off return 403 `not_public`.

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `handle` | string | yes |  |  | The channel's username, with or without @ (e.g. `telegram`), or its t.me link. | `telegram` |
| `cursor` | string | no |  |  | The `cursor` from the previous response, to get older posts. |  |

## 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/telegram/channel/posts?handle=telegram" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

JavaScript:

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

Python:

```python
import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/telegram/channel/posts",
    params={
        "handle": "telegram",
    },
    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["posts"])
```

## 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": 999967,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "posts": [
    {
      "id": 460,
      "url": "https://t.me/telegram/460",
      "channel": "telegram",
      "date": "2026-08-26T19:12:34.000Z",
      "text": "For all the info from today's update and a look back at 13 years of Tele…",
      "html": "For all the info from today&#39;s update and a look back at <b>13 years …",
      "views": 1560000,
      "viewsText": "1.56M",
      "author": null,
      "edited": false,
      "service": false,
      "forwardedFrom": null,
      "replyTo": null,
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://cdn4.telesco.pe/file/dl9aM1qWnPC0O0s7lyHDr6AIg5HgqhOfCS4Xc0sLTLE…",
      "media": [],
      "linkPreview": {
        "url": "https://telegram.org/blog/welcome-messages-buttons-TG-13",
        "siteName": "Telegram",
        "title": "Welcome Messages, Buttons in Messages and Signed Gifts",
        "description": "Introducing Welcome Messages to greet new members of groups or channels,…",
        "imageUrl": "https://cdn4.telesco.pe/file/dl9aM1qWnPC0O0s7lyHDr6AIg5HgqhOfCS4Xc0sLTLE…"
      },
      "reactions": []
    },
    {
      "id": 459,
      "url": "https://t.me/telegram/459",
      "channel": "telegram",
      "date": "2026-08-26T19:12:24.000Z",
      "text": "Signed Gifts. You can now add your signature and a comment to gifts you …",
      "html": "<b>Signed Gifts.</b> You can now add <b>your signature</b> and a comment…",
      "views": 1370000,
      "viewsText": "1.37M",
      "author": null,
      "edited": false,
      "service": false,
      "forwardedFrom": null,
      "replyTo": null,
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://cdn1.telesco.pe/file/RhrlWCcmMlG1LUjXfh6UOAGfnLWlQR3Krq8l6iCkEp1…",
      "media": [
        {
          "type": "video",
          "url": "https://cdn1.telesco.pe/file/6efb59a075.mp4?token=qyCmPI01dUHLvkZgjM8Z4t…",
          "thumbnailUrl": "https://cdn1.telesco.pe/file/RhrlWCcmMlG1LUjXfh6UOAGfnLWlQR3Krq8l6iCkEp1…",
          "durationS": 12,
          "title": null
        }
      ],
      "linkPreview": null,
      "reactions": []
    }
  ],
  "cursor": "441"
}
```

## 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). |
| `posts` | `object[]` | One page of posts, newest first. |
| `posts[].id` | `number` | Post id, unique within the channel. Posts are numbered in order. |
| `posts[].url` | `string` | The post on t.me, e.g. `https://t.me/telegram/441`. |
| `posts[].channel` | `string` | The channel's username, e.g. `telegram`. |
| `posts[].date` | `string`, nullable | Posted at, ISO 8601 (UTC). |
| `posts[].text` | `string` | Post text (or media caption), plain, with line breaks. Empty if the post has none. |
| `posts[].html` | `string`, nullable | Post text as HTML: bold, italics, links, quotes. null if the post has no text. |
| `posts[].views` | `number`, nullable | View count, as a number. Telegram rounds it ("1.2K" → 1200); null if not shown. |
| `posts[].viewsText` | `string`, nullable | View count as Telegram shows it, e.g. "1.56M"; null if not shown. |
| `posts[].author` | `string`, nullable | Author signature, on channels that sign posts; null otherwise. |
| `posts[].edited` | `boolean` | The post was edited after it was published. |
| `posts[].service` | `boolean` | A service message ("Channel created", "Channel photo updated"), not a real post. |
| `posts[].forwardedFrom` | `object`, nullable | Where the post was forwarded from; null if it's original. |
| `posts[].forwardedFrom.name` | `string` | Name of the channel or person it was forwarded from. |
| `posts[].forwardedFrom.url` | `string`, nullable | Link to the original post or channel; null for hidden accounts. |
| `posts[].replyTo` | `object`, nullable | The post this one replies to; null if it isn't a reply. |
| `posts[].replyTo.id` | `number`, nullable | Id of the post it replies to; null if the link isn't a post link. |
| `posts[].replyTo.url` | `string` | Link to the post it replies to. |
| `posts[].replyTo.author` | `string`, nullable | Name shown on the quoted post. |
| `posts[].replyTo.text` | `string`, nullable | The quoted post's text, shortened by Telegram; null if it has none. |
| `posts[].thumbnailUrl` | `string`, nullable | A preview image for the post: the first media's thumbnail, else the link preview's image; null if none. |
| `posts[].media` | `object[]` | Photos, videos, files and stickers attached to the post, in order. Empty for text posts. |
| `posts[].media[].type` | `string` | `photo`, `video`, `document` (a file), `audio` (a music or podcast file) or `sticker`. |
| `posts[].media[].url` | `string`, nullable | Direct file URL on Telegram's CDN, temporary. null for documents, audio, and videos too big for the web preview (open the post instead). |
| `posts[].media[].thumbnailUrl` | `string`, nullable | Preview image URL (the photo itself for photos), temporary; null if none. |
| `posts[].media[].durationS` | `number`, nullable | Video length in seconds; null for other media. |
| `posts[].media[].title` | `string`, nullable | File name or audio title, for documents and audio; null otherwise. |
| `posts[].linkPreview` | `object`, nullable | The link preview card under the text; null if none. |
| `posts[].linkPreview.url` | `string` | The linked page. |
| `posts[].linkPreview.siteName` | `string`, nullable | Site name, e.g. "YouTube". |
| `posts[].linkPreview.title` | `string`, nullable | Page title. |
| `posts[].linkPreview.description` | `string`, nullable | Page description. |
| `posts[].linkPreview.imageUrl` | `string`, nullable | Preview image URL, temporary; null if none. |
| `posts[].reactions` | `object[]` | Reactions in Telegram's order (paid first, then most frequent). Empty if there are none. |
| `posts[].reactions[].type` | `string` | `emoji`, `custom_emoji` (a Premium emoji) or `paid` (Telegram Stars). |
| `posts[].reactions[].emoji` | `string`, nullable | The emoji, e.g. "👍"; null for paid reactions and custom emoji without a standard look-alike. |
| `posts[].reactions[].count` | `number` | How many, as a number. Telegram rounds large counts ("14.3K" → 14300). |
| `cursor` | `string`, nullable | Pass as `cursor` for older posts. null on the last page. |

## Pagination

Pass the response's `cursor` back as `cursor`, with the other parameters unchanged, for the next page. It's `null` on the last page. Each page costs 1 credit.

The first five pages, in JavaScript:

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

## Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 5 minutes, 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 | `not_public` | The platform confirmed this account or content isn't available to logged-out visitors. Use a publicly visible target. Charged when the platform was checked. |
| 404 | `not_found` | The endpoint, or the thing you asked for (ad, post, subreddit), doesn't exist. Charged when the platform was checked. |
| 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. Retry; timeouts are free. |

## Use it in Claude

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

Ask Claude:

```text
Use LurkAPI's telegram_channel_posts with handle "telegram" and summarize what you find.
```

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

Tool arguments:

```json
{
  "handle": "telegram"
}
```

Tool results skip nulls and empty lists to save tokens.

---

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