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Giphy API Documentation

The Giphy API is now open to the public. We have institued a simple, single public beta key system to let anyone quickly hack and experiment with the API. An API key is required for all endpoints.

Giphy is an animated GIF search engine. If you would like to use Giphy API in production, please contact api@giphy.com for a unique API key.

Overview

The Giphy API provides the following JSON endpoints:

  • search
  • GIF by id
  • GIFs by id
  • translate
  • random
  • trending

The search endpoint replicates the search found on Giphy. Translate is an experimental endpoint designed to be used for GIF dialects and random returns a single random GIF, optionally limited to a specified tag. Learn more about the rest in the documentation below.

The Giphy API implements a REST-like interface. Connections can be made with any HTTP enabled programming language. The Giphy API also implements CORS, allowing you to connect to Giphy from JavaScript / Web browsers on your own domain.

Host
api.giphy.com
Parameters
  • api_key - The public beta key is "dc6zaTOxFJmzC"

Search Endpoint

Search all Giphy GIFs for a word or phrase. Punctuation will be stripped and ignored. Use a plus or url encode for phrases. Example paul+rudd, ryan+gosling or american+psycho.

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=funny+cat&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC	

Example search query.

Path
/v1/gifs/search
Parameters
  • q - search query term or phrase
  • limit - (optional) number of results to return, maximum 100. Default 25.
  • offset - (optional) results offset, defaults to 0.

Sample Response, Search

{
    "data": [
        {
            "bitly_fullscreen_url": "http://gph.is/XJIocS",
            "bitly_gif_url": "http://gph.is/XJIp0f",
            "bitly_tiled_url": "http://gph.is/XJIr8i",
            "id": "iU1NUdMq3sx3O",
            "images": {
                "fixed_height": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200.gif",
                    "width": "267"
                },
                "fixed_height_downsampled": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200_d.gif",
                    "width": "267"
                },
                "fixed_height_still": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200_s.gif",
                    "width": "267"
                },
                "fixed_width": {
                    "height": "150",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200w.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_downsampled": {
                    "height": "150",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200w_d.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_still": {
                    "height": "150",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/200w_s.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "original": {
                    "frames": "3",
                    "height": "375",
                    "size": "189975",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/iU1NUdMq3sx3O/giphy.gif",
                    "width": "500"
                }
            },
            "type": "gif",
            "url": "http://giphy.com/gifs/iU1NUdMq3sx3O"
        }
    ],
    "meta": {
        "msg": "OK",
        "status": 200
    },
    "pagination": {
        "count": 1,
        "offset": "0",
        "total_count": 249
    }
}

Get GIF by ID Endpoint

Returns meta data about a GIF, by GIF id. In the below example, the GIF ID is "feqkVgjJpYtjy"

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/feqkVgjJpYtjy?api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC

Example get GIF by id query

Path
/v1/gifs/<gif_id>

Sample Response, Get GIF by ID

{
    "data": {
        "bitly_fullscreen_url": "http://gph.is/XJ1Y8Q",
        "bitly_gif_url": "http://gph.is/XJ200y",
        "bitly_tiled_url": "http://gph.is/XJ1Y8T",
        "id": "feqkVgjJpYtjy",
        "images": {
            "fixed_height": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200.gif",
                "width": "445"
            },
            "fixed_height_downsampled": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200_d.gif",
                "width": "445"
            },
            "fixed_height_still": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200_s.gif",
                "width": "445"
            },
            "fixed_width": {
                "height": "90",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "fixed_width_downsampled": {
                "height": "90",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w_d.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "fixed_width_still": {
                "height": "90",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w_s.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "original": {
                "height": "150",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/giphy.gif",
                "width": "334"
            }
        },
        "type": "gif",
        "url": "http://giphy.com/gifs/feqkVgjJpYtjy"
    },
    "meta": {
        "msg": "OK",
        "status": 200
    }
}

Get GIFs by ID Endpoint

A multiget version of the get GIF by ID endpoint. In this case the IDs are feqkVgjJpYtjy and 7rzbxdu0ZEXLy

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs?api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&ids=feqkVgjJpYtjy,7rzbxdu0ZEXLy

Example get GIFs by Id

Path
/v1/gifs
Parameters
  • ids - a comma separated list of IDs to fetch GIF size data.

Sample Response, Get GIFs by ID

{
    "data": [
        {
            "bitly_fullscreen_url": "http://gph.is/13YkU2A",
            "bitly_gif_url": "http://gph.is/13YkU2y",
            "bitly_tiled_url": "http://gph.is/13YkTf4",
            "embed_url": "http://giphy.com/embed/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy",
            "id": "7rzbxdu0ZEXLy",
            "images": {
                "fixed_height": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_height_downsampled": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200_d.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_height_still": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200_s.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200w.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_downsampled": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200w_d.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_still": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/200w_s.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "original": {
                    "frames": "9",
                    "height": "500",
                    "size": "1012692",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy/giphy.gif",
                    "width": "500"
                }
            },
            "type": "gif",
            "url": "http://giphy.com/gifs/7rzbxdu0ZEXLy"
        },
        {
            "bitly_fullscreen_url": "http://gph.is/XJ1Y8Q",
            "bitly_gif_url": "http://gph.is/XJ200y",
            "bitly_tiled_url": "http://gph.is/XJ1Y8T",
            "embed_url": "http://giphy.com/embed/feqkVgjJpYtjy",
            "id": "feqkVgjJpYtjy",
            "images": {
                "fixed_height": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media3.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200.gif",
                    "width": "445"
                },
                "fixed_height_downsampled": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media2.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200_d.gif",
                    "width": "445"
                },
                "fixed_height_still": {
                    "height": "200",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200_s.gif",
                    "width": "445"
                },
                "fixed_width": {
                    "height": "90",
                    "url": "http://media1.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_downsampled": {
                    "height": "90",
                    "url": "http://media0.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w_d.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "fixed_width_still": {
                    "height": "90",
                    "url": "http://media2.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/200w_s.gif",
                    "width": "200"
                },
                "original": {
                    "frames": "27",
                    "height": "150",
                    "size": "511581",
                    "url": "http://media3.giphy.com/media/feqkVgjJpYtjy/original.gif",
                    "width": "334"
                }
            },
            "type": "gif",
            "url": "http://giphy.com/gifs/feqkVgjJpYtjy"
        }
    ],
    "meta": {
        "msg": "OK",
        "status": 200
    },
    "pagination": {
        "count": 2,
        "offset": 0,
        "total_count": 2
    }
}

Translate Endpoint

This is prototype endpoint for using Giphy as a translation engine for a GIF dialect. The translate API draws on search, but uses the Giphy "special sauce" to handle translating from one vocabulary to another. In this case, words and phrases to GIFs. Use a plus or url encode for phrases.

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/translate?s=superman&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=1

Example translate query.

Path
/v1/gifs/translate
Parameters
  • s - term or phrase to translate into a GIF

Sample Response, Translate

{
    "data": {
        "bitly_fullscreen_url": "http://gph.is/XH7Sri",
        "bitly_gif_url": "http://gph.is/XH7V6j",
        "bitly_tiled_url": "http://gph.is/XH7Srk",
        "id": "3avUsGhmckIYE",
        "images": {
            "fixed_height": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200.gif",
                "width": "289"
            },
            "fixed_height_downsampled": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200_d.gif",
                "width": "289"
            },
            "fixed_height_still": {
                "height": "200",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200_s.gif",
                "width": "289"
            },
            "fixed_width": {
                "height": "138",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200w.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "fixed_width_downsampled": {
                "height": "138",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200w_d.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "fixed_width_still": {
                "height": "138",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/200w_s.gif",
                "width": "200"
            },
            "original": {
                "height": "346",
                "url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/3avUsGhmckIYE/giphy.gif",
                "width": "500"
            }
        },
        "type": "gif",
        "url": "http://giphy.com/gifs/3avUsGhmckIYE"
    },
    "meta": {
        "msg": "OK",
        "status": 200
    }
}

Random Endpoint

Returns a random GIF, limited by tag. Excluding the tag parameter will return a random GIF from the Giphy catalog.

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/random?api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&tag=american+psycho

Example random query

Path
/v1/gifs/random
Parameters
  • tag - the GIF tag to limit randomness by

Sample Response, Random

{
    "data": {
        "id": "12jp1Z7ITCrPxe",
        "image_original_url": "http://media.giphy.com/media/12jp1Z7ITCrPxe/giphy.gif"
    },
    "meta": {
        "msg": "OK",
        "status": 200
    }
}

Trending GIFs Endpoint

Fetch GIFs currently trending online. The data returned mirrors that used to create The Hot 100 list of GIFs on Giphy. Returns 25 results by default.

http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/trending?api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC

Example trending GIFs query. Example trending GIFs limited to 5 results.

Path
/v1/gifs/trending
Parameters
  • limit (optional) limits the number of results returned.

Sample Response, Trending

{
    data: [
        {
            type: "gif",
            id: "jI6YyYxUHHEw8",
            url: "http://giphy.com/gifs/jI6YyYxUHHEw8",
            bitly_gif_url: "",
            bitly_fullscreen_url: "",
            bitly_tiled_url: "",
            embed_url: "http://giphy.com/embed/jI6YyYxUHHEw8",
            images: {
                fixed_height: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200.gif",
                    width: "333",
                    height: "200"
                },
                fixed_height_still: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200_s.gif",
                    width: "333",
                    height: "200"
                },
                fixed_height_downsampled: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200_d.gif",
                    width: "333",
                    height: "200"
                },
                fixed_width: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200w.gif",
                    width: "200",
                    height: "120"
                },
                fixed_width_still: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200w_s.gif",
                    width: "200",
                    height: "120"
                },
                fixed_width_downsampled: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/200w_d.gif",
                    width: "200",
                    height: "120"
                },
                original: {
                    url: "http://media0.giphy.com/media/jI6YyYxUHHEw8/giphy.gif",
                    width: "500",
                    height: "300",
                    size: "618230",
                    frames: "68"
                }
            }
        }
    ],
    pagination: {
        total_count: 1447,
        count: 1,
        offset: 0
    },
    meta: {
        status: 200,
        msg: "OK"
    }
}

Code Examples

Below are code samples in Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP and the command line on connecting to the API to make a search query for ryan gosling.

Python scripting language

# python
import urllib,json
data = json.loads(urllib.urlopen("http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=ryan+gosling&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=5").read())
print json.dumps(data, sort_keys=True, indent=4)

JavaScript scripting language

#javascript, jQuery
var xhr = $.get("http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=ryan+gosling&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=5");
xhr.done(function(data) { console.log("success got data", data); });

Ruby scripting language

#ruby
require 'net/http'
require 'json'
url = "http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=ryan+gosling&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=5"
resp = Net::HTTP.get_response(URI.parse(url))
buffer = resp.body
result = JSON.parse(buffer) 
print result 

PHP scripting language

// php
$url = "http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=ryan+gosling&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=5";
print_r(json_decode(file_get_contents($url)));

Command line, cURL

# curl, command line
curl "http://api.giphy.com/v1/gifs/search?q=ryan+gosling&api_key=dc6zaTOxFJmzC&limit=5"

Sharing and Promoting your Giphy API Project

Projects that leverage the Giphy API can be submitted to Giphy labs. Learn more about Giphy labs.

Additional Information

Please submit corrections via github issues. Please see the terms for any restrictions on using the service.

Note: the public beta key will be decommissioned at a point in the future. Usage in production is prohibited and not recommended. Developers seeking to leverage the Giphy API should contact api@giphy.com for a unique API key.

We recommend the JSONview plugin for Firefox or Chrome.