How to access Wayback Machine programmatically?





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3















What I'm trying to do



For a list of websites, I want to get the pages indexed by year, if they were archived at any point that year. So if I'm looking at example1.com and example2.com, I want to be able to get:



2010: example1.com, example2.com (the html from these archived pages)
2011: example1.com (example2.com, say, was not archived in 2011)
2012: example2.com
2013: example1.com, example2.com


and so on.



Question



Is this possible to get using the Wayback Machine API? I looked at their API listing and it didn't seem like I could do what I was trying to do. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like a fairly plausible use case. Any other suggestions?










share|improve this question





























    3















    What I'm trying to do



    For a list of websites, I want to get the pages indexed by year, if they were archived at any point that year. So if I'm looking at example1.com and example2.com, I want to be able to get:



    2010: example1.com, example2.com (the html from these archived pages)
    2011: example1.com (example2.com, say, was not archived in 2011)
    2012: example2.com
    2013: example1.com, example2.com


    and so on.



    Question



    Is this possible to get using the Wayback Machine API? I looked at their API listing and it didn't seem like I could do what I was trying to do. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like a fairly plausible use case. Any other suggestions?










    share|improve this question

























      3












      3








      3


      1






      What I'm trying to do



      For a list of websites, I want to get the pages indexed by year, if they were archived at any point that year. So if I'm looking at example1.com and example2.com, I want to be able to get:



      2010: example1.com, example2.com (the html from these archived pages)
      2011: example1.com (example2.com, say, was not archived in 2011)
      2012: example2.com
      2013: example1.com, example2.com


      and so on.



      Question



      Is this possible to get using the Wayback Machine API? I looked at their API listing and it didn't seem like I could do what I was trying to do. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like a fairly plausible use case. Any other suggestions?










      share|improve this question














      What I'm trying to do



      For a list of websites, I want to get the pages indexed by year, if they were archived at any point that year. So if I'm looking at example1.com and example2.com, I want to be able to get:



      2010: example1.com, example2.com (the html from these archived pages)
      2011: example1.com (example2.com, say, was not archived in 2011)
      2012: example2.com
      2013: example1.com, example2.com


      and so on.



      Question



      Is this possible to get using the Wayback Machine API? I looked at their API listing and it didn't seem like I could do what I was trying to do. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like a fairly plausible use case. Any other suggestions?







      web-scraping






      share|improve this question













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      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Nov 19 '15 at 18:25









      ShivanKaulShivanKaul

      175117




      175117
























          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          6














          They key thing to understand about the Wayback Machine APIs is that there are (from what I can tell) three different ways to work with them.



          Wayback Availability JSON API



          The first is the API which is documented near the top of the Wayback Machine API page you already mentioned.



          That API gives the date-wise nearest result for an archive on a given page. So you can check the Wayback Machine for copies of the Google homepage archived around New Year's Day like so:



          http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20080101
          http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20090101
          http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20100101
          etc..



          Using the information returned in those URLs, you can easily download the content programmatically.



          Wayback CDX Server API



          Next we have the Wayback Machine CDX Server API which reveals a much richer series of interfaces. Most notably, you can quickly download every snapshot of a URL that you are interested in:



          http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=www.fredtrotter.com



          Memento API



          Lastly we have the deep and mysterious resource that is the Wayback Machine Memento API. That link is to a blog post about the functionality, but from what I can garner, this is about working with the Wayback Machine at a protocol level, where the Mememnto Protocol is a well-thought out version of the way an archive site should operate.



          Final thoughts



          In all cases, please be gentle and respectful with your scripting. The Wayback Machine API does not currently require credentials, which is a very generous and open posture in general keeping with the Internet Archive's role as a "Wonder of the Virtual World". So do not abuse it, because that is how we ensure that we have nice things.



          Thanks to Greg, and the rest of the Wayback Machine team, for the excellent work you do to keep the Internet a source of personal freedom and expression.






          share|improve this answer

































            4














            Our CDX API allows you to make 2 separate calls get a list of all captures for the url or domain example1.com and the url or domain example2.com. You can then produce whatever summary you like.






            share|improve this answer
























            • This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

              – sampablokuper
              Nov 22 '18 at 12:19











            • I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

              – Greg Lindahl
              Nov 23 '18 at 17:09











            • Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

              – sampablokuper
              Nov 27 '18 at 1:21












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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            6














            They key thing to understand about the Wayback Machine APIs is that there are (from what I can tell) three different ways to work with them.



            Wayback Availability JSON API



            The first is the API which is documented near the top of the Wayback Machine API page you already mentioned.



            That API gives the date-wise nearest result for an archive on a given page. So you can check the Wayback Machine for copies of the Google homepage archived around New Year's Day like so:



            http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20080101
            http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20090101
            http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20100101
            etc..



            Using the information returned in those URLs, you can easily download the content programmatically.



            Wayback CDX Server API



            Next we have the Wayback Machine CDX Server API which reveals a much richer series of interfaces. Most notably, you can quickly download every snapshot of a URL that you are interested in:



            http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=www.fredtrotter.com



            Memento API



            Lastly we have the deep and mysterious resource that is the Wayback Machine Memento API. That link is to a blog post about the functionality, but from what I can garner, this is about working with the Wayback Machine at a protocol level, where the Mememnto Protocol is a well-thought out version of the way an archive site should operate.



            Final thoughts



            In all cases, please be gentle and respectful with your scripting. The Wayback Machine API does not currently require credentials, which is a very generous and open posture in general keeping with the Internet Archive's role as a "Wonder of the Virtual World". So do not abuse it, because that is how we ensure that we have nice things.



            Thanks to Greg, and the rest of the Wayback Machine team, for the excellent work you do to keep the Internet a source of personal freedom and expression.






            share|improve this answer






























              6














              They key thing to understand about the Wayback Machine APIs is that there are (from what I can tell) three different ways to work with them.



              Wayback Availability JSON API



              The first is the API which is documented near the top of the Wayback Machine API page you already mentioned.



              That API gives the date-wise nearest result for an archive on a given page. So you can check the Wayback Machine for copies of the Google homepage archived around New Year's Day like so:



              http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20080101
              http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20090101
              http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20100101
              etc..



              Using the information returned in those URLs, you can easily download the content programmatically.



              Wayback CDX Server API



              Next we have the Wayback Machine CDX Server API which reveals a much richer series of interfaces. Most notably, you can quickly download every snapshot of a URL that you are interested in:



              http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=www.fredtrotter.com



              Memento API



              Lastly we have the deep and mysterious resource that is the Wayback Machine Memento API. That link is to a blog post about the functionality, but from what I can garner, this is about working with the Wayback Machine at a protocol level, where the Mememnto Protocol is a well-thought out version of the way an archive site should operate.



              Final thoughts



              In all cases, please be gentle and respectful with your scripting. The Wayback Machine API does not currently require credentials, which is a very generous and open posture in general keeping with the Internet Archive's role as a "Wonder of the Virtual World". So do not abuse it, because that is how we ensure that we have nice things.



              Thanks to Greg, and the rest of the Wayback Machine team, for the excellent work you do to keep the Internet a source of personal freedom and expression.






              share|improve this answer




























                6












                6








                6







                They key thing to understand about the Wayback Machine APIs is that there are (from what I can tell) three different ways to work with them.



                Wayback Availability JSON API



                The first is the API which is documented near the top of the Wayback Machine API page you already mentioned.



                That API gives the date-wise nearest result for an archive on a given page. So you can check the Wayback Machine for copies of the Google homepage archived around New Year's Day like so:



                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20080101
                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20090101
                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20100101
                etc..



                Using the information returned in those URLs, you can easily download the content programmatically.



                Wayback CDX Server API



                Next we have the Wayback Machine CDX Server API which reveals a much richer series of interfaces. Most notably, you can quickly download every snapshot of a URL that you are interested in:



                http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=www.fredtrotter.com



                Memento API



                Lastly we have the deep and mysterious resource that is the Wayback Machine Memento API. That link is to a blog post about the functionality, but from what I can garner, this is about working with the Wayback Machine at a protocol level, where the Mememnto Protocol is a well-thought out version of the way an archive site should operate.



                Final thoughts



                In all cases, please be gentle and respectful with your scripting. The Wayback Machine API does not currently require credentials, which is a very generous and open posture in general keeping with the Internet Archive's role as a "Wonder of the Virtual World". So do not abuse it, because that is how we ensure that we have nice things.



                Thanks to Greg, and the rest of the Wayback Machine team, for the excellent work you do to keep the Internet a source of personal freedom and expression.






                share|improve this answer















                They key thing to understand about the Wayback Machine APIs is that there are (from what I can tell) three different ways to work with them.



                Wayback Availability JSON API



                The first is the API which is documented near the top of the Wayback Machine API page you already mentioned.



                That API gives the date-wise nearest result for an archive on a given page. So you can check the Wayback Machine for copies of the Google homepage archived around New Year's Day like so:



                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20080101
                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20090101
                http://archive.org/wayback/available?url=google.com&timestamp=20100101
                etc..



                Using the information returned in those URLs, you can easily download the content programmatically.



                Wayback CDX Server API



                Next we have the Wayback Machine CDX Server API which reveals a much richer series of interfaces. Most notably, you can quickly download every snapshot of a URL that you are interested in:



                http://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx?url=www.fredtrotter.com



                Memento API



                Lastly we have the deep and mysterious resource that is the Wayback Machine Memento API. That link is to a blog post about the functionality, but from what I can garner, this is about working with the Wayback Machine at a protocol level, where the Mememnto Protocol is a well-thought out version of the way an archive site should operate.



                Final thoughts



                In all cases, please be gentle and respectful with your scripting. The Wayback Machine API does not currently require credentials, which is a very generous and open posture in general keeping with the Internet Archive's role as a "Wonder of the Virtual World". So do not abuse it, because that is how we ensure that we have nice things.



                Thanks to Greg, and the rest of the Wayback Machine team, for the excellent work you do to keep the Internet a source of personal freedom and expression.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Nov 22 '18 at 12:32









                sampablokuper

                3,25674371




                3,25674371










                answered Feb 19 '17 at 8:30









                ftrotterftrotter

                2,35922844




                2,35922844

























                    4














                    Our CDX API allows you to make 2 separate calls get a list of all captures for the url or domain example1.com and the url or domain example2.com. You can then produce whatever summary you like.






                    share|improve this answer
























                    • This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 22 '18 at 12:19











                    • I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                      – Greg Lindahl
                      Nov 23 '18 at 17:09











                    • Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 27 '18 at 1:21
















                    4














                    Our CDX API allows you to make 2 separate calls get a list of all captures for the url or domain example1.com and the url or domain example2.com. You can then produce whatever summary you like.






                    share|improve this answer
























                    • This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 22 '18 at 12:19











                    • I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                      – Greg Lindahl
                      Nov 23 '18 at 17:09











                    • Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 27 '18 at 1:21














                    4












                    4








                    4







                    Our CDX API allows you to make 2 separate calls get a list of all captures for the url or domain example1.com and the url or domain example2.com. You can then produce whatever summary you like.






                    share|improve this answer













                    Our CDX API allows you to make 2 separate calls get a list of all captures for the url or domain example1.com and the url or domain example2.com. You can then produce whatever summary you like.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Jun 17 '16 at 21:53









                    Greg LindahlGreg Lindahl

                    318313




                    318313













                    • This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 22 '18 at 12:19











                    • I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                      – Greg Lindahl
                      Nov 23 '18 at 17:09











                    • Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 27 '18 at 1:21



















                    • This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 22 '18 at 12:19











                    • I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                      – Greg Lindahl
                      Nov 23 '18 at 17:09











                    • Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                      – sampablokuper
                      Nov 27 '18 at 1:21

















                    This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                    – sampablokuper
                    Nov 22 '18 at 12:19





                    This answer is somewhat confusing. On whose behalf was it written? (I.e. who is "our" in this context?) Also, any chance you could state the URL for the API that you referred to, to avoid ambiguity and to eliminate needless web searches? (Cf. "Brevity is acceptable, but fuller explanations are better.")

                    – sampablokuper
                    Nov 22 '18 at 12:19













                    I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                    – Greg Lindahl
                    Nov 23 '18 at 17:09





                    I was working at the Internet Archive on the Wayback when I wrote my answer, and the API I refer to is linked in the question and the other answer. Here it is again: archive.org/help/wayback_api.php (scroll to the bottom to the section labeled "Wayback CDX Server API")

                    – Greg Lindahl
                    Nov 23 '18 at 17:09













                    Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                    – sampablokuper
                    Nov 27 '18 at 1:21





                    Upvoted. Thanks for clarifying, and thanks for working on Wayback :)

                    – sampablokuper
                    Nov 27 '18 at 1:21


















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