> **For coding agents and LLMs:** This is one Social Fetch marketing page (markdown export). For API orientation start with [`/llms.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.txt); for auth and crawl rules use [`/agents.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/agents.txt); for every operation use [`/llms-endpoints.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-endpoints.txt).

## This page

- **On-site (HTML):** <https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/mastodon/search>
- **Markdown (.mdx) URL:** <https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/mastodon/search.mdx>

---

# Mastodon Search API

Search one server for accounts, hashtags or posts, with the same typed records as the lookup routes.

`GET /v1/mastodon/search?host=mastodon.social&q=gargron` searches one server. Without `type`, the server returns accounts and hashtags; `type=accounts`, `type=hashtags` and `type=posts` narrow it. The answer is always the same shape: `data.query`, `data.type`, `data.accounts`, `data.hashtags` and `data.posts`, with full records for whatever matched.

Post search is the exception. Mastodon keeps post search for logged-in users, so `type=posts` returns `lookupStatus: restricted` with `reason.code: login_required` on those servers; Pleroma, Akkoma and some other software answer it. Search has no paging: `limit` accepts 1 to 40 and defaults to 20, and there is no cursor or offset. Search is local to the server, so the same query gives different results elsewhere.

## Request

- **Endpoint:** `GET /v1/mastodon/search`
- **Credits:** 1 credit
Failed requests are free
- **Input:** by query and server
- **Full reference:** [docs](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/mastodon/search/get)
- **Platform page:** [/platforms/mastodon](https://www.socialfetch.dev/platforms/mastodon)

## FAQ

### Why does post search return restricted?

Mastodon keeps post search for logged-in users. On those servers type=posts comes back restricted with reason.code login_required rather than an empty success. Pleroma and Akkoma can answer it.

### How many credits does a search cost?

Pricing is documented on the operation in the API registry (shown on this page). Confirm on every response with meta.creditsCharged: that field is the billing source of truth.

### Can I page through results?

No. Servers do not offer paging for public search. limit accepts 1 to 40 and defaults to 20, and the response has no page object.

### What can I search for?

q is free text up to 300 characters. Without type the server returns accounts and hashtags. Use type to ask for accounts, hashtags or posts only.

### Are results global?

No. Search runs against one server's index, which covers accounts and posts that server knows. Search another server for a different view.