SerpApi Ruby Library

Integrate search data into your Ruby application. This library is the official wrapper for SerpApi (https://serpapi.com).

SerpApi supports Google, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Baidu, Yandex, Yahoo, eBay, App Stores, and more.

Installation

Ruby 1.9.3 (or more recent), JRuby 9.1.17 (or more recent), or TruffleRuby 19.3.0 (or more recent) is required.

Bundler

gem 'serpapi', '~> 1.0.0'

Gem

$ gem install serpapi

Ruby Gem page

Simple Usage

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new api_key: "serpapi_api_key"
results = client.search q: "coffee", engine: "google"
pp results

This example runs a search for "coffee" on Google. It then returns the results as a regular Ruby Hash. See the playground to generate your own code.

Advanced Usage

Search API

# load gem
require 'serpapi'

# serpapi client created with default parameters
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: "secret_key", engine: "google")

# We recommend that you keep your keys safe.
# At least, don't commit them in plain text.
# More about configuration via environment variables: 
# https://hackernoon.com/all-the-secrets-of-encrypting-api-keys-in-ruby-revealed-5qf3t5l

# search query overview (more fields available depending on search engine)
params = {
  # select the search engine (full list: https://serpapi.com/)
  engine: "google",
  # actual search query
  q: "Coffee",
  # then adds search engine specific options.
  # for example: google specific parameters: https://serpapi.com/search-api
  google_domain: "Google Domain",
  location: "Location Requested", # example: Portland,Oregon,United States [see: Location API](#Location-API)
  device: "desktop|mobile|tablet",
  hl: "Google UI Language",
  gl: "Google Country",
  safe: "Safe Search Flag",
  num: "Number of Results",
  start: "Pagination Offset",
  tbm: "nws|isch|shop",
  tbs: "custom to be client criteria",
  # tweak HTTP client behavior
  async: false, # true when async call enabled.
  timeout: 60, # HTTP timeout in seconds on the client side only.
}

# formated search results as a Hash
#  serpapi.com converts HTML -> JSON 
results = client.search(params)

# raw search engine html as a String
#  serpapi.com acts a proxy to provive high throughputs, no search limit and more.
raw_html = client.html(parameter)

Google search documentation. More hands on examples are available below.

Documentations

Location API

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new() 
location_list = client.location(q: "Austin", limit: 3)
puts "number of location: #{location_list.size}"
pp location_list

it prints the first 3 locations matching Austin (Texas, Texas, Rochester)

[{
  :id=>"585069bdee19ad271e9bc072",
  :google_id=>200635,
  :google_parent_id=>21176,
  :name=>"Austin, TX",
  :canonical_name=>"Austin,TX,Texas,United States",
  :country_code=>"US",
  :target_type=>"DMA Region",
  :reach=>5560000,
  :gps=>[-97.7430608, 30.267153],
  :keys=>["austin", "tx", "texas", "united", "states"]
  }
  # ...
]

NOTE: api_key is not required for this endpoint.

Search Archive API

This API allows retrieving previous search results. To fetch earlier results from the search_id.

First, you need to run a search and save the search id.

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: 'secret_api_key', engine: 'google')
results = client.search(q: "Coffee", location: "Portland")
search_id = results[:search_metadata][:id]

Now let's retrieve the previous search results from the archive.

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: 'secret_api_key')
results = client.search_archive(search_id)
pp results

This code prints the search results from the archive. :)

Account API

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: 'secret_api_key')
pp client.account

It prints your account information.

Bulk Search API

If you have high volume of searches (e.g., >= 1 million) and they don't need to be live, you can use our Bulk Search API. You just have to use the async parameter:

client = SerpApi::Client.new api_key: 'secret_api_key', async: true
searches = [
  { engine: "google", q: "coffee" },
  { engine: "google", q: "tea" },
  { engine: "google", q: "hot chocolate milk" },
  # ...
]
# Submit async searches
async_searches = searches.map do |search|
  async_search = client.search search
  async_search
end
# Get an ETA using the last search scheduled time
bulk_search_eta = async_search_results.last[:search_metadata][:scheduled_at]
# After the searches are done processing (i.e., `bulk_search_eta`)
async_search_results = async_searches.map do |search|
  results = client.search_archive search[:id]
  results
end

Basic example per search engine

Search bing

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'bing')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_bing_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/bing-search-api

Search baidu

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'baidu')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_baidu_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/baidu-search-api

Search yahoo

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'yahoo')
results = client.search({
  'p': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_yahoo_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/yahoo-search-api

Search youtube

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'youtube')
results = client.search({
  'search_query': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:video_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_youtube_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/youtube-search-api

Search walmart

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'walmart')
results = client.search({
  'query': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_walmart_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/walmart-search-api

Search ebay

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'ebay')
results = client.search({
  '_nkw': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_ebay_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/ebay-search-api

Search naver

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'naver')
results = client.search({
  'query': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:ads_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_naver_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/naver-search-api

Search home depot

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'home_depot')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'table'
})
pp results[:products]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_home_depot_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/home-depot-search-api

Search apple app store

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'apple_app_store')
results = client.search({
  'term': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_apple_app_store_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/apple-app-store

Search duckduckgo

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'duckduckgo')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_duckduckgo_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/duckduckgo-search-api

Search google search

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_search')
results = client.search({
  "q": "coffee",
  "engine": "google"
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_search_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/search-api

Search google scholar

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_scholar')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_scholar_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-scholar-api

Search google autocomplete

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_autocomplete')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:suggestions]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_autocomplete_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-autocomplete-api

Search google product

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_product')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee',
  'product_id': '4172129135583325756'
})
pp results[:product_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_product_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-product-api

Search google reverse image

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_reverse_image')
results = client.search({
  'image_url': 'https://i.imgur.com/5bGzZi7.jpg'
})
pp results[:image_sizes]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_reverse_image_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-reverse-image

Search google events

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_events')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:events_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_events_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-events-api

Search google local services

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_local_services')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'Electrician',
  'data_cid': 'ChIJOwg_06VPwokRYv534QaPC8g'
})
pp results[:local_ads]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_local_services_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-local-services-api

Search google maps

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_maps')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'pizza',
  'll': '@40.7455096,-74.0083012,15.1z',
  'type': 'search'
})
pp results[:local_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_maps_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-maps-api

Search google jobs

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_jobs')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'coffee'
})
pp results[:jobs_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_jobs_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-jobs-api

Search google play

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_play')
results = client.search({
  'q': 'kite',
  'store': 'apps'
})
pp results[:organic_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_play_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/google-play-api

Search google images

require 'serpapi'
client = SerpApi::Client.new(api_key: ENV['API_KEY'], engine: 'google_images')
results = client.search({
  "engine": "google",
  "tbm": "isch",
  "q": "coffee"
})
pp results[:images_results]
# ENV['API_KEY'] captures the secret user API available from http://serpapi.com

source code: spec/serpapi/example_search_google_images_spec.rb
doc: https://serpapi.com/images-results

Migration quick guide

if you were already using (google-search-results-ruby gem)[https://github.com/serpapi/google-search-results-ruby], here are the changes.

# load library
# old way 
require 'google_search_results'
# new way
require 'serpapi'

# define a search
# old way to describe the search
search = GoogleSearch.new(search_params)
# new way 
default_parameter = {api_key: "secret_key", engine: "google"}
client = SerpApi::Client.new(default_parameter)
# an instance of the serpapi client is created
# where the default parameters are stored in the client.
#   like api_key, engine
#  then each subsequent API call can be made with additional parameters.

# override an existing parameter
# old way
search.params[:location] = "Portland,Oregon,United States"
# new way
# just provided the search call with the parameters.
results = client.search({location: "Portland,Oregon,United States", q: "Coffe"})

# search format return as raw html
# old way
html_results = search.get_html
# new way
raw_html = client.html(params)
# where params is Hash containing additional key / value

# search format returns a Hash
# old way
hash_results = search.get_hash
# new way
results = client.search(params)
# where params is the search parameters (override the default search parameters in the constructor). 

# search as raw JSON format
# old way
json_results = search.get_json
# new way
results = client.search(params)

# The prefix get_ is removed from all other methods.
#  Because it's evident that a method returns something.
# old -> new way
search.get_search_archive -> client.search_archive
search.get_account -> client.account
search.get_location -> client.location

Most notable improvements:

Removing parameters check on the client side. (most of the bugs)
Reduce logic complexity in our implementation. (faster performance)
Better documentation.

Advanced search API usage

Highly scalable batching

Search API features non-blocking search using the option: async=true.

Non-blocking - async=true - a single parent process can handle unlimited concurrent searches.
Blocking - async=false - many processes must be forked and synchronized to handle concurrent searches. This strategy is I/O usage because each client would hold a network connection.

Search API enables async search.

Non-blocking (async=true) : the development is more complex, but this allows handling many simultaneous connections.
Blocking (async=false) : it's easy to write the code but more compute-intensive when the parent process needs to hold many connections.

Here is an example of asynchronous searches using Ruby

require 'serpapi'
# target MAANG companies
company_list = %w(meta amazon apple netflix google)
client = SerpApi::Client.new({engine: 'google', async: true, api_key: ENV['API_KEY']})
search_queue = Queue.new
company_list.each do |company|
  # store request into a search_queue - no-blocker
  result = client.search({q: company})
  if result[:search_metadata][:status] =~ /Cached|Success/
    puts "#{company}: client done"
    next
  end

  # add results to the client queue
  search_queue.push(result)
end

puts "wait until all searches are cached or success"
while !search_queue.empty?
  result = search_queue.pop
  # extract client id
  search_id = result[:search_metadata][:id]

  # retrieve client from the archive - blocker
  search_archived = client.2(search_id)
  if search_archived[:search_metadata][:status] =~ /Cached|Success/
    puts "#{search_archived[:search_parameters][:q]}: client done"
    next
  end

  # add results to the client queue
  search_queue.push(result)
end

search_queue.close
puts 'done'

source code: oobt/demo_async.rb

This code shows a simple solution to batch searches asynchronously into a queue. Each search takes a few seconds before completion by SerpApi service and the search engine. By the time the first element pops out of the queue. The search result might be already available in the archive. If not, the search_archive method blocks until the search results are available.

Supported Ruby version.

Ruby versions validated by Github Actions:

3.1
2.6 see: Github Actions.

Change logs

[2023-02-20] 1.0.0 Full API support

Developer Guide

Key goals

Brand centric instead of search engine based
- No hard-coded logic per search engine
Simple HTTP client (lightweight, reduced dependency)
- No magic default values
- Thread safe
Easy extension
Defensive code style (raise a custom exception)
TDD
Best API coding practice per platform
KiSS principles

Inspirations

This project source code and coding style was inspired by the most awesome Ruby Gems:

Code quality expectations

0 lint offense: rake lint
100% tests passing: rake test
100% code coverage: rake test (simple-cov)

Developer Guide

Design : UML diagram

Class diagram

classDiagram
  Application *-- serpapi 
  serpapi *-- Client
  class Client {
    engine String
    api_key String
    params Hash
    search() Hash
    html() String
    location() String
    search_archive() Hash
    account() Hash
  }
  openuri <.. Client
  json <.. Client
  Ruby <.. openuri
  Ruby <.. json

search() : Sequence diagram

sequenceDiagram
    Client->>SerpApi.com: search() : http request 
    SerpApi.com-->>SerpApi.com: query search engine
    SerpApi.com-->>SerpApi.com: parse HTML into JSON
    SerpApi.com-->>Client: JSON string payload
    Client-->>Client: decode JSON into Hash

where:

The end user implements the application.
Client refers to SerpApi:Client.
SerpApi.com is the backend HTTP / REST service.
Engine refers to Google, Baidu, Bing, and more.

The SerpApi.com service (backend)

executes a scalable search on engine: "google" using the search query: q: "coffee".
parses the messy HTML responses from Google on the backend.
returns a standardized JSON response. The class SerpApi::Client (client side / ruby):
Format the request to SerpApi.com server.
Execute HTTP Get request.
Parse JSON into Ruby Hash using a standard JSON library. Et voila!

Continuous integration

We love "true open source" and "continuous integration", and Test Drive Development (TDD). We are using RSpec to test [our infrastructure around the clock]) using Github Action to achieve the best QoS (Quality Of Service).

The directory spec/ includes specification which serves the dual purposes of examples and functional tests.

Set your secret API key in your shell before running a test.

export API_KEY="your_secret_key"

Install testing dependency

$ bundle install
# or
$ rake dependency

Check code quality using Lint.

$ rake lint

Run regression.

$ rake test

To flush the flow.

$ rake

Open coverage report generated by rake test

open coverage/index.html

Open ./Rakefile for more information.

Contributions are welcome. Feel to submit a pull request!

TODO

[] Release version 1.0.0

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 86 Commits
.github/workflows		.github/workflows
lib		lib
oobt		oobt
spec		spec
.gitignore		.gitignore
.rubocop.yml		.rubocop.yml
.yardopts		.yardopts
Gemfile		Gemfile
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md
README.md.erb		README.md.erb
Rakefile		Rakefile
serpapi.gemspec		serpapi.gemspec

License

serpapi/serpapi-ruby

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SerpApi Ruby Library

Installation

Bundler

Gem

Simple Usage

Advanced Usage

Search API

Documentations

Location API

Search Archive API

Account API

Bulk Search API

Basic example per search engine

Search bing

Search baidu

Search yahoo

Search youtube

Search walmart

Search ebay

Search naver

Search home depot

Search apple app store

Search duckduckgo

Search google search

Search google scholar

Search google autocomplete

Search google product

Search google reverse image

Search google events

Search google local services

Search google maps

Search google jobs

Search google play

Search google images

Migration quick guide

Advanced search API usage

Highly scalable batching

Supported Ruby version.

Change logs

Developer Guide

Key goals

Inspirations

Code quality expectations

Developer Guide

Design : UML diagram

Class diagram

search() : Sequence diagram

Continuous integration

TODO

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