DataForSEO

Comprehensive SEO data API for SERP results, keyword research, backlinks, and on-page analysis.

Capabilities

Authentication

• Type: Basic Auth
• Header: Authorization: Basic {base64(login:password)}
• Get credentials: API Access tab at https://app.dataforseo.com/api-access
• Note: API password is auto-generated, different from account password

Common Agent Operations

SERP - Google organic (live)

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/serp/google/organic/live/regular

[{
  "keyword": "marketing automation",
  "location_name": "United States",
  "language_name": "English"
}]

Keywords - Search volume (live)

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/search_volume/live

[{
  "keywords": ["email marketing", "marketing automation", "crm software"],
  "location_code": 2840,
  "language_code": "en"
}]

Keywords - Keywords for site (live)

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_site/live

[{
  "target": "example.com",
  "location_code": 2840,
  "language_code": "en"
}]

Backlinks - Summary

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/backlinks/summary/live

[{
  "target": "example.com",
  "internal_list_limit": 10,
  "backlinks_status_type": "live"
}]

Backlinks - List

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/backlinks/backlinks/live

[{
  "target": "example.com",
  "mode": "as_is",
  "limit": 100,
  "backlinks_status_type": "live"
}]

Backlinks - Referring domains

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/backlinks/referring_domains/live

[{
  "target": "example.com",
  "limit": 100
}]

Backlinks - Index (database stats)

GET https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/backlinks/index

On-Page - Instant pages audit

POST https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/on_page/instant_pages

[{
  "url": "https://example.com/page",
  "enable_javascript": true
}]

SERP - Locations list

GET https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/serp/google/locations

SERP - Languages list

GET https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/serp/google/languages

API Pattern

DataForSEO uses two methods for most endpoints:

• Live (/live) - Synchronous, results in same response
• Task-based (/task_post + /task_get/$id) - Async for large requests

Request bodies are always JSON arrays (even for single requests).

Key Metrics

Keyword Metrics

• search_volume - Monthly search volume
• competition - Competition level (0-1)
• cpc - Cost per click
• monthly_searches - Monthly breakdown array

Backlink Metrics

• total_backlinks - Total backlink count
• referring_domains - Unique referring domains
• domain_rank - Domain authority score
• backlinks_spam_score - Spam score

When to Use

• Programmatic SERP tracking at scale
• Keyword research with search volume data
• Backlink analysis and monitoring
• On-page SEO audits
• Competitor analysis

Rate Limits

• Rate limit headers: X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining
• Backlinks API: 2000 requests/minute, 30 simultaneous
• Varies by endpoint and plan

Relevant Skills

• seo-audit
• programmatic-seo
• content-strategy
• competitor-alternatives