Google has announced the URL Inspection API for Search Console

Google has announced the release of a new URL Inspection API, which enables an external app to interact with Google’s search console and provide URL inspection data. The new API access will make it easier for SEOs and publishers to discover and debug issues.

The Search Console API Extends Data Usability

API is an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface. An API is a bridge that allows two software programs to communicate with one another.

Tools such as Screaming Frog, for example, can use APIs to connect with Google Search Console and use that data to automate the process of discovering insights.

Screaming Frog can be connected to Google Search Console via the Configuration tab, then API > Google Search Console.

How to Enable Screaming Frog’s Search Console API Access

Screaming Frog (and other apps) can currently collect data such as clicks, impressions, CTR, and position using the API. The API can also be used to find new URLs for crawling as well as to add orphaned URLs to site audit reports.

The Search Console API also allows WordPress plugins and many other SEO tools to securely access Search Console via the API.

Google provided the following examples of how this specific API access can be used:

“For example, checking if there are differences between user-declared and Google-selected canonicals, or debugging structured data issues from a group of pages.
CMS and plugin developers can add page or template-level insights and ongoing checks for existing pages. For example, monitoring changes over time for key pages to diagnose issues and help prioritize fixes.”

API for URL Inspection Tool

The URL inspection tool provides useful information about Google-indexed URLs. It provides information on indexing issues as well as structured data and AMP errors.

The tool does not allow you to test a live URL, and the API does not allow you to do so.

Google’s developer documentation states:

“View the indexed, or indexable, status of the provided URL. Presently only the status of the version in the Google index is available; you cannot test the indexability of a live URL.”

Usage Quota

Google stated that there is a total query quota of 2,000 per day and a speed limit of 600 queries per minute.

Nonetheless, the new URL Inspection Tool API provides access to new ways to track the progress of a website’s SEO and to assist in identifying problems and developing solutions. In the near future, the new functionality should begin to appear in tools and plugins.