Google+ releases API focused on search

Google released a new application programming interface (API) for Google+ today. The API gives developers access to Google+’s search functions. The API remains public-focused and will only allow developers to access public posts as well as people.

Developers use APIs to access data within another program, such as social data, to improve their own third party applications.

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Google launched its first set of APIs for Google+ mid-September and soon thereafter introduced the search feature in a sweep of additions. Its second API announcement, this time for access to Google+ video chat feature Hangouts, came in tandem with that announcement. Today Google announced on its blog an API that focuses on search. The current Google+ search function provides you with relevant people and posts pertaining to your keyword query, and also relevant matches from the web.

In terms of public posts, the calls will scan both the body of the post as well as any comments on it. You can also see who has plus-oned a post or reshared it. Google explained that it wants developers to not only see the conversations, but also how they are being interacted with. You can also use the API to access people’s name, bio, location, tag line and description.

“As an API developer, I love seeing what people build on top of the APIs I’ve worked on,” said Jordanna Chord, a software engineer for the Google+ API team, said in the blog post. “We have been reading your posts on the discussion board and issue tracker and I am excited to see more of your creative ideas.”