How to Get Medium User Information

(Using Javascript)

Fetching detailed information about a Medium user can be a valuable tool for developers, content creators, and marketers looking to analyze profiles, build personalized experiences, or manage interactions.

This guide explains how to retrieve Medium user information using the "medium-api-js" package by providing the user's ID. The outcome is a comprehensive user profile containing key details like name, bio, follower counts, and more.

Prerequisites

To successfully implement this, ensure the following are in place:

• Node.js Installed: Install Node.js to execute JavaScript code.
• API Key: Obtain a RAPIDAPI_KEY by signing up for the Medium API service on RapidAPI.
  How to Subscribe to Medium API and Get Your API Key from RapidAPI Platform
• Environment Variables: Use a .env file to securely store your API key.
• Install Required Packages:
  • dotenv: for environment variable management.
  • medium-api-js: a wrapper for Medium API.

Run the following commands to install the dependencies:

npm install medium-api-js dotenv

Code Explanation

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the script to fetch Medium user information:

1. Import Required Libraries

import Medium from 'medium-api-js';
import dotenv from 'dotenv';

The medium-api-js package provides methods to interact with the Medium API, while dotenv allows you to load sensitive credentials securely from a .env file.

2. Configure Environment Variables

dotenv.config();

This line ensures the environment variables, including your API key, are loaded from the .env file.

3. Initialize the Medium Client

const medium = new Medium(process.env.RAPIDAPI_KEY);

The Medium client is initialized with your RapidAPI key, enabling authenticated requests to the Medium API.

4. Fetch User Information

medium.getUserInfo('1985b61817c3')
    .then(data => console.log('User Info:', data));

The getUserInfo method takes a user ID (e.g., 1985b61817c3) and returns a promise. Upon resolution, it logs the user’s details to the console.

Command to Run the Script

Save the script as getUserInfo.js and execute it with the following command:

node getUserInfo.js

Output Explanation

When the script runs successfully, the output will display detailed user information in JSON format:

Key Details:

• Basic Info: User’s name, username, and bio.
• Counts: Number of followers, following, and publications followed.
• Images: Profile picture and background image URLs.
• Membership Status: Indicates if the user is enrolled in the Writer Program or a Medium member.
• Additional Links: Includes tipping links and social media handles.

Potential Use Cases

• Profile Analytics: Analyze Medium profiles to study engagement metrics or writing interests.
• Personalized Recommendations: Build tailored reading or writing suggestions based on a user’s activity.
• Network Building: Identify and connect with users in specific niches.

Summary

Retrieving Medium user information is straightforward and opens doors to many practical applications in analytics, content creation, and user engagement. With the Medium API and medium-api-js, you can easily fetch, analyze, and utilize profile data for various purposes.

For further assistance or queries regarding the Medium API, feel free to reach out at nishu@mediumapi.com.