Google Books

API

Access millions of book records and metadata via REST API

Overview

The Google Books API provides RESTful endpoints to retrieve book metadata, covers, and preview content. Key endpoints include volume search (by title, author, ISBN, or genre) and individual volume details. Responses are in JSON format, containing info like title, authors, publication date, ISBNs, publisher, and links to book previews. Use cases include integrating book search into apps, building personal library tools, creating recommendation systems, or adding literary metadata to educational platforms. It supports filtering by publication year and publisher for targeted results.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://developers.google.com/books/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful API design
JSON response format
Search by title/author/ISBN/genre
Access to book metadata & previews
Filterable results (publication year, publisher)

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Google Books API free to use?

Yes, it offers a free tier with a daily rate limit of 1000 requests. Paid plans are available for higher usage volumes.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, all requests need a valid API key obtained from the Google Cloud Console. This key authenticates your application to the API.

? What is the response format?

The API returns responses in JSON format, containing detailed book metadata such as title, authors, ISBNs, publication date, covers, and links to book previews.

Top Alternatives

Open Library API Search Google

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Tool Info

Pricing Freemium

Category Books

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Extensive database with millions of titles
⊕ Easy-to-integrate endpoints
⊕ Rich metadata including covers and preview links
⊕ Free tier available for basic usage

Cons

⊖ Requires API key for all requests
⊖ Rate limits on free tier (1000 requests/day)
⊖ Limited full-text access for some books
⊖ No SLA for free usage