Using cURL

How to Scrape Facebook Post Details with cURL

Get Facebook post details with optional comments and transcript using cURL. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from setup to implementation.

Overview

What You'll Learn

  • Setting up your cURL environment
  • Installing the required HTTP client
  • Authenticating with SociaVault API
  • Making requests to Facebook
  • Handling responses and errors

What You'll Get

  • Access to post data
  • JSON formatted responses
  • Real-time data access
  • Scalable solution
  • Error handling patterns

Prerequisites

1. API Key

First, you'll need a SociaVault API key to authenticate your requests.

2. Development Environment

Make sure you have the following installed:

  • cURL installed
  • A code editor (VS Code, Sublime, etc.)
  • Command line interface access

Implementation

Step 1: Install HTTP Client

We'll use curl to make HTTP requests.

bash
# No installation required on most systems

Step 2: API Implementation

Now let's make a request to the Facebook API using cURL. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key.

curl
curl -X GET "https://api.sociavault.com/facebook/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1535656380759655" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Testing Your Code

API Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
urlstringYesExample: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1535656380759655

Expected Response

You should receive a structured JSON response containing the post data.

json
{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 48026,
  "post_id": "25118307061088489",
  "like_count": 2095,
  "comment_count": 48,
  "share_count": 133,
  "view_count": 133000,
  "description": "Air Fryer Chocolate Cake \n\n100% f*cks, super simple and comes out gooey in the middle. 🍆 \n\n👨‍🍳 Ingredients:\n✅ 1 large banana – 100 g (3.5 oz)\n✅ 80 g vanilla YoPro yogurt (2.8 oz / ⅓ cup)\n✅ 15 g Cadbury Bournville cocoa (0.5 oz / 1 tbsp)\n✅ 80 ml egg whites (2.7 fl oz / ⅓ cup)\n✅ 50 g oat flour (1.75 oz / ½ cup)\n✅ 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml)\n✅ ½ tsp baking powder (2.5 g)\n👉 Optional: 1 square dark chocolate (10 g / 0.35 oz, ~55 cals)\n\n🔥 Method:\n 1. Mix banana, egg whites, yogurt, cocoa and vanilla until smooth\n 2. Stir in oat flour and baking powder\n 3. Pour into a ramekin or muffin tin\n 4. Add chocolate square to the centre if using\n 5. Air fry at 160°C / 320°F for 20 minutes\n\n📊 Macros (whole recipe):\nWithout choc: 378 cals | 27 g protein | 61.9 g carbs | 6 g fat\nWith choc: 433 cals | 27 g protein | 61.9 g carbs | 11.5 g fat\n\n📊 Macros (per serve — 2 serves):\nWithout choc: 189 cals | 13.5g protein | 31 g carbs | 3 g fat\nWith choc: 217 cals | 13.5 g protein | 31 g carbs | 5.8 g fat\n\nI also added low-calorie Peters ice cream and a small drizzle of Biscoff, but it honestly doesn’t need it. Tastes great on its own!\n\nIf you would like to make changes to this recipe yourself please do, but I like this EXACTLY the way it is. 🤝🫡",
  "feedback_id": "ZmVlZGJhY2s6MjUxMDIxMDY3OTkzNzUxODI=",
  "url": "https://www.facebook.com/reel/1535656380759655",
  "video": {
    "id": "1535656380759655",
    "sd_url": "https://video-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/o1/v/t2/f2/m69/AQPmP0-_mHv5cFqZShaBXjVeIgFmk-_1-6fll0qvoiw3O_StvDRD1FPZafKE0Mri9p94smEKiXpdPjrMnIk2qesQ.mp4?strext=1&_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=8bf8fe&_nc_ht=video-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net&_nc_ohc=l9xG1fq_DpcQ7kNvwHsNBKh&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5GQUNFQk9PSy4uQzMuMzYwLnByb2dyZXNzaXZlX2gyNjQtYmFzaWMtZ2VuMl8zNjBwIiwieHB2X2Fzc2V0X2lkIjo4MTEzOTQ4MTQ3NDY5NjAsInZpX3VzZWNhc2VfaWQiOjEwMDk5LCJkdXJhdGlvbl9zIjoyMywidXJsZ2VuX3NvdXJjZSI6Ind3dyJ9&ccb=17-1&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AfYY-br7Wa1JiPzs7_0vVr6SEV6zDf7qREmd6IV2xBGYMA&oe=68D239F0&bitrate=313736&tag=progressive_h264-basic-gen2_360p",
    "hd_url": "https://video-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/o1/v/t2/f2/m69/AQPvY-B_jtS_HwdB--AaOLTiMpw_euZ4QZoJbbh4iBl-faYyL6mYoumXJPqDF8qAnvZk8_SN5QOUds3tDfP0Bfa0.mp4?strext=1&_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=8bf8fe&_nc_ht=video-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net&_nc_ohc=Z4s5wsMtW5wQ7kNvwFE0mwo&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5GQUNFQk9PSy4uQzMuNzIwLnByb2dyZXNzaXZlX2gyNjQtYmFzaWMtZ2VuMl83MjBwIiwieHB2X2Fzc2V0X2lkIjo4MTEzOTQ4MTQ3NDY5NjAsInZpX3VzZWNhc2VfaWQiOjEwMDk5LCJkdXJhdGlvbl9zIjoyMywidXJsZ2VuX3NvdXJjZSI6Ind3dyJ9&ccb=17-1&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AfZJDoPCKtq3WW2VumFViHPpmIkGGqG34j9MWd9FmGrCVg&oe=68D25899&bitrate=1088662&tag=progressive_h264-basic-gen2_720p",
    "height": 1920,
    "width": 1080,
    "length_in_second": 23.36,
    "thumbnail": "https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-10/549761436_18521992156021539_7633323777597918486_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=282d23&_nc_ohc=1LkTvLqxMhAQ7kNvwF2uUb7&_nc_oc=AdlKRAdNOj6ZDiga-3Zfj5bcwvfc68Lc39nsYJQ0hSPWGsRtUZJZ_sPCk25DrZJ2N98&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&oh=00_AfZy5UXtBdlEMJc6E6uLLiTvR15d344Nn4PO-wNA0cldQQ&oe=68D25528",
    "captions_url": "https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2093-6/548496336_1535656704092956_4849526113470105591_n.srt?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c211c2&_nc_ohc=IiEVsW2fSK0Q7kNvwEeCqpW&_nc_oc=AdmC4PNaIEGYuNZo_Qk6Qha6U8-ynQip-CKdvOrtQBRqTCrO8nOb6C5kABxPkLO4Vdc&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&oh=00_AfaJjBR2lJhhXTUO5hl0FWPGIlLxjVfuGMmTKUWSEtf6xA&oe=68D23D9F"
  },
  "author": {
    "id": "100000076236457",
    "name": "Matt West",
    "is_verified": true,
    "url": "https://www.facebook.com/matt.west.184",
    "image": "https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-1/485744182_9938984382780671_4072259528431711152_n.jpg?stp=cp0_dst-jpg_s40x40_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=1d2534&_nc_ohc=zu8xeHB9r5gQ7kNvwGWw84m&_nc_oc=AdkZ2Ef1ReB34aXLnnIpd4KHQ95nC0wAYS1GptVwcltvxMBjKXEU_D-mebY8WPwkhGI&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&oh=00_AfbFDYlovggVMiDAQp2_r7Ou-o0RG4T0VPbLMxVTfPlW7g&oe=68D250E6"
  },
  "music": {
    "id": "1506592770696336",
    "type": "CUSTOM_AUDIO",
    "track_title": "Matt West · Original audio",
    "music_album_art": "https://scontent-fml1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-1/485744182_9938984382780671_4072259528431711152_n.jpg?stp=cp0_dst-jpg_s64x64_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=1d2534&_nc_ohc=zu8xeHB9r5gQ7kNvwGWw84m&_nc_oc=AdkZ2Ef1ReB34aXLnnIpd4KHQ95nC0wAYS1GptVwcltvxMBjKXEU_D-mebY8WPwkhGI&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-fml1-1.xx&_nc_gid=pXV0rbdIO2qXvelwzem88A&oh=00_AfZEGmsJmX51XXJTwXi90sPYazNybtjik0KhIFczr3jqIg&oe=68D250E6"
  }
}

Best Practices

Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling and retry logic for failed requests. Log errors properly for debugging.

Caching

Cache responses when possible to reduce API calls and improve performance. Consider data freshness requirements.

Security

Never expose your API key in client-side code. Use environment variables and secure key management practices.

Troubleshooting

401

Unauthorized

Check your API key is correct and properly formatted in the x-api-key header.

402

Payment Required

You ran out of credits and need to buy more.

404

Not Found

The resource (user, video, etc.) might not exist or be private.

429

Too Many Requests

You have exceeded your rate limit. Slow down your requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to scrape Facebook?

SociaVault offers 50 free API calls to get started. After that, pricing starts at $10 for 5k requests with volume discounts available.

Is it legal to scrape Facebook data?

Scraping publicly available data is generally considered legal. We only collect public data that is accessible without logging in.

How fast can I scrape Facebook?

Our API handles the rate limiting for you. You can make requests as fast as your plan allows.

What data format does the API return?

All API responses are returned in JSON format, making it easy to integrate with any programming language or application.

Related Tutorials

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