Google SERP API: Google Search Results as JSON

What does “Google SERP API” mean?

It usually means an API that retrieves Google search results for a query and normalizes the page into data an application can process. It is different from Google’s own advertising, analytics or Maps services. Serqo is a third-party search results API; the example below requests a Google web results snapshot.

Make a Google SERP request

Send the query in q. Keep the API key in a server-side environment variable and send it in the x-api-key header.

curl https://api.serqo.io/v1/search \
  -H "x-api-key: $SERP_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"q":"project management software","engine":"google","type":"web","gl":"us","hl":"en"}'

The response contains a common result list in data.results. Each item can include position, title, url, displayedUrl and snippet. Optional result groups can appear in data.features. See the Google Search API reference for the response shape and parameters.

Choose a market and language

gl selects a two-letter country code, such as us; hl sets the search interface language, such as en. They describe different parts of the search context. Record both values with each response when comparing markets. If you omit them, the returned market may not match the one you intended.

Read positions as a snapshot

position is the order of an item in that returned results page. A position is not a permanent ranking or a guarantee that all searchers see the same result. Query wording, location, language, device, time and page features can change what appears. For a trend, store comparable requests with their collection times and compare the result URLs and positions in your own system.

When should you use this approach?

A Google SERP API is useful when an application needs current search result data without parsing the results page itself. Common jobs include scheduled rank checks, keyword research interfaces, search monitoring and data enrichment. If you need an ongoing rank history, the API supplies individual snapshots; scheduling and history belong in your application.

Frequently asked questions

Is Serqo the official Google Search API?

No. Serqo is a third-party API that returns Google search results. It does not represent Google or provide Google Maps Platform services.

Can a Google SERP API guarantee a fixed position?

No. It reports the position returned for a specific request context and time. Search results can vary, so store the request settings and timestamps when tracking change.

How do I request a later results page?

Check data.pagination.hasNext and use data.pagination.nextStart as the next request’s start value. Keep the other request settings unchanged.

Continue with the Google Search API reference, the rank tracking guide, or plans and credit rules.

Google SERP API basics