# Hashtag videos

> Videos posted with a hashtag, plus how big the hashtag is: total posts and views.

- **Request:** `GET https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/tiktok/search/hashtag`
- **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:** `tiktok_hashtag_videos` on `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp`
- **Freshness:** responses are cached for up to 10 minutes
- **Try it live:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/tiktok/hashtag-videos#try (no signup)
- **Platform:** [TikTok](https://lurkapi.com/docs/tiktok.md) (tiktok.com)
- **Web page:** https://lurkapi.com/docs/tiktok/hashtag-videos

## When to use this

Use it to research a trend, a niche or a campaign hashtag: which creators post under it, what performs, and how big it is (`hashtag.videoCount` and `hashtag.viewCount`, exact). Videos come in the order tiktok.com's hashtag page shows them: neither newest nor most viewed first, and often months old.

**Pagination.** Up to 30 videos per page. Pass the response's `cursor` back as `cursor` (with the same `hashtag`) for more; `has_more` is false at the end. A few videos can repeat across pages, so dedupe by `id`. At times TikTok shows logged-out visitors only a handful of a hashtag's videos (with `has_more: false`), even for a big one; it serves full pages again later.

Unknown hashtags return 404 `not_found`.

## Parameters

All parameters go in the query string.

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Allowed values | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `hashtag` | string | yes |  |  | The hashtag, with or without # (e.g. `skincare`), or its tiktok.com/tag/… URL. | `smallbusiness` |
| `cursor` | string | no |  |  | The `cursor` from the previous response, to get the next page. |  |

## 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/tiktok/search/hashtag?hashtag=smallbusiness" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

JavaScript:

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

Python:

```python
import os
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/tiktok/search/hashtag",
    params={
        "hashtag": "smallbusiness",
    },
    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["videos"])
```

## 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": 99956,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "hashtag": {
    "id": "31667995",
    "title": "SmallBusiness",
    "desc": "Join the #SmallBusiness community",
    "videoCount": 44173142,
    "viewCount": 252781323890,
    "isCommerce": false
  },
  "videos": [
    {
      "id": "7451403653912677678",
      "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@franchisejon/video/7451403653912677678",
      "desc": "How to own a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise? #franchise #franchiseopportu…",
      "createTime": 1734915113,
      "textLanguage": "en",
      "locationCreated": null,
      "isAd": false,
      "author": {
        "id": "6609105852464021510",
        "uniqueId": "franchisejon",
        "nickname": "franchisejon",
        "secUid": "MS4wLjABAAAA-ko4urvbwco3xX8NTQjMzh3stLu7nG-SccyZN5Dohp3w70QvgmUIjsqFAn8N-EPm",
        "verified": false,
        "privateAccount": false,
        "avatarThumb": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/92014e7…",
        "avatarLarger": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/92014e7…"
      },
      "stats": {
        "playCount": 620900,
        "diggCount": 13000,
        "commentCount": 663,
        "shareCount": 1814,
        "collectCount": 1112,
        "repostCount": 0
      },
      "video": {
        "duration": 55,
        "width": 576,
        "height": 1024,
        "definition": "540p",
        "cover": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/oodootgaf…",
        "dynamicCover": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/oodootgaf…",
        "playUrl": "https://www.tiktok.com/aweme/v1/play/?faid=1988&file_id=177b34e2f668411f…",
        "expires_at": 1790947674
      },
      "music": {
        "id": "7451403593065925422",
        "title": "original sound",
        "authorName": "franchisejon",
        "original": true,
        "duration": 55,
        "playUrl": "https://v16m.tiktokcdn-us.com/bc91a83fbd76f761a46bd585d6c256b4/6abd62ba/…",
        "cover": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/92014e7…"
      },
      "hashtags": [
        "franchise",
        "franchiseopportunities",
        "business",
        "businesscheck",
        "businesstips",
        "tiktokbusiness",
        "fyp",
        "careeradvice",
        "careerchange",
        "beyourownboss",
        "entrepreneur",
        "entrepreneurship",
        "franchisee",
        "tiktokbusinesscampaign",
        "smallbusiness",
        "businessowner",
        "businesstiktok"
      ],
      "mentions": [],
      "images": []
    },
    {
      "id": "7449732446209232170",
      "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@rusty_exotics/video/7449732446209232170",
      "desc": "The birthplace of orchids - RustyExotics #SmallBusiness #TikTokBusinessC…",
      "createTime": 1734526007,
      "textLanguage": "en",
      "locationCreated": null,
      "isAd": false,
      "author": {
        "id": "7352872043438359595",
        "uniqueId": "rusty_exotics",
        "nickname": "RustyExotics",
        "secUid": "MS4wLjABAAAALLqyyXChFpFfg4oaT9FON0smbQ5pHXc29absfjMy-w6HyKDNkr5O29ocVuIV2QmB",
        "verified": false,
        "privateAccount": false,
        "avatarThumb": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/68e2af6…",
        "avatarLarger": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/68e2af6…"
      },
      "stats": {
        "playCount": 209200,
        "diggCount": 17500,
        "commentCount": 159,
        "shareCount": 971,
        "collectCount": 1255,
        "repostCount": 0
      },
      "video": {
        "duration": 88,
        "width": 576,
        "height": 1024,
        "definition": "540p",
        "cover": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/oMxhD6fDS…",
        "dynamicCover": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/oMxhD6fDS…",
        "playUrl": "https://www.tiktok.com/aweme/v1/play/?faid=1988&file_id=d49684dac1cd4a3e…",
        "expires_at": 1790947707
      },
      "music": {
        "id": "7380329705533573136",
        "title": "growth",
        "authorName": "Gede Yudis",
        "original": false,
        "duration": 215,
        "playUrl": null,
        "cover": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-alisg-v-2774/oYgBEoKYkBBMQE…"
      },
      "hashtags": [
        "smallbusiness",
        "tiktokbusinesscampaign",
        "biology",
        "science",
        "orchid",
        "plants"
      ],
      "mentions": [],
      "images": []
    }
  ],
  "has_more": true,
  "cursor": "55"
}
```

## 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). |
| `hashtag` | `object` | The hashtag. |
| `hashtag.id` | `string` | TikTok's id for the hashtag. |
| `hashtag.title` | `string` | The hashtag, without #. |
| `hashtag.desc` | `string` | TikTok's description of the hashtag; empty for most. |
| `hashtag.videoCount` | `number` | Posts using the hashtag, exact. |
| `hashtag.viewCount` | `number` | Total views of those posts, exact. |
| `hashtag.isCommerce` | `boolean` | A branded hashtag (a sponsored hashtag challenge). |
| `videos` | `object[]` | Posts, in the order tiktok.com shows them (not newest first). |
| `videos[].id` | `string` | Video id, e.g. `7671325437229845774`. |
| `videos[].url` | `string` | The post on tiktok.com. |
| `videos[].desc` | `string` | Caption, hashtags included. |
| `videos[].createTime` | `number` | Posted at, Unix seconds. |
| `videos[].textLanguage` | `string`, nullable | Caption language as TikTok detects it, e.g. `en`; null if unknown. |
| `videos[].locationCreated` | `string`, nullable | Country the post was made in, as a 2-letter code; null if unknown. |
| `videos[].isAd` | `boolean` | A paid ad (Spark Ad or promoted post). |
| `videos[].author` | `object` | Who posted it. |
| `videos[].author.id` | `string` | Numeric user id. |
| `videos[].author.uniqueId` | `string` | Username (handle), without @. |
| `videos[].author.nickname` | `string` | Display name. |
| `videos[].author.secUid` | `string` | TikTok's long, stable user id; other tools ask for it. |
| `videos[].author.verified` | `boolean` | Has the verified badge. |
| `videos[].author.privateAccount` | `boolean` | The account is private. |
| `videos[].author.avatarThumb` | `string`, nullable | Small avatar URL (expires after a few days); null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].author.avatarLarger` | `string`, nullable | Large avatar URL (expires after a few days); null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].stats` | `object` | Engagement when fetched. Exact numbers, not rounded. |
| `videos[].stats.playCount` | `number` | Views. |
| `videos[].stats.diggCount` | `number` | Likes. |
| `videos[].stats.commentCount` | `number` | Comments. |
| `videos[].stats.shareCount` | `number` | Shares. |
| `videos[].stats.collectCount` | `number`, nullable | Saves (favorites); null where TikTok doesn't show it. |
| `videos[].stats.repostCount` | `number`, nullable | Reposts; null where TikTok doesn't show it. |
| `videos[].video` | `object` | The video file. For photo posts see `images`. |
| `videos[].video.duration` | `number` | Length in seconds; 0 for photo posts. |
| `videos[].video.width` | `number` | Width in pixels; 0 for photo posts. |
| `videos[].video.height` | `number` | Height in pixels; 0 for photo posts. |
| `videos[].video.definition` | `string`, nullable | Quality of the default rendition, e.g. `720p`. |
| `videos[].video.cover` | `string`, nullable | Cover image URL (expires after a few days); null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].video.dynamicCover` | `string`, nullable | Animated cover URL (expires after a few days); null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].video.playUrl` | `string`, nullable | MP4 URL that plays without cookies (h264, best quality). It redirects to TikTok's CDN and expires at `expires_at`; null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].video.expires_at` | `number`, nullable | When `playUrl` stops working, Unix seconds; null if unknown. |
| `videos[].music` | `object`, nullable | The sound; null if the post has none. |
| `videos[].music.id` | `string` | Sound id; pass it to song endpoints. |
| `videos[].music.title` | `string` | Sound title, e.g. `original sound`. |
| `videos[].music.authorName` | `string`, nullable | Artist, or the creator for original sounds. |
| `videos[].music.original` | `boolean` | An original sound made with this post rather than a track. |
| `videos[].music.duration` | `number`, nullable | Length in seconds. |
| `videos[].music.playUrl` | `string`, nullable | Audio URL (expires after a few hours); null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].music.cover` | `string`, nullable | Sound cover image URL; null if TikTok has none. |
| `videos[].hashtags` | `string[]` | Hashtags in the caption, without #. |
| `videos[].mentions` | `string[]` | Usernames @mentioned in the caption. |
| `videos[].images` | `object[]` | The slides of a photo post, in order. Empty for videos. |
| `videos[].images[].url` | `string` | Image URL (expires after a few days). |
| `videos[].images[].width` | `number` | Width in pixels. |
| `videos[].images[].height` | `number` | Height in pixels. |
| `has_more` | `boolean` | There are more posts after this page. |
| `cursor` | `string`, nullable | Pass as `cursor` for the next page. 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({ hashtag: "smallbusiness" });
  if (cursor) params.set("cursor", cursor);
  const res = await fetch(`https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/tiktok/search/hashtag?${params}`, {
    headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LURKAPI_KEY },
  });
  const data = await res.json();
  if (!data.success) throw new Error(`${data.code}: ${data.error}`);
  console.log(data.videos);
  cursor = data.cursor;
  if (!cursor) break; // last page
}
```

## Caching and freshness

Responses are cached for up to 10 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. |
| 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 `tiktok_hashtag_videos` tool. Ask in plain English, for example:

Ask Claude:

```text
Use LurkAPI's tiktok_hashtag_videos with hashtag "smallbusiness" and summarize what you find.
```

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

Tool arguments:

```json
{
  "hashtag": "smallbusiness"
}
```

Tool results skip nulls and empty lists to save tokens.

---

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