How to Search Lists on Medium

Using the Medium API (JavaScript)

In the vast world of Medium, finding curated lists that align with your interests can enhance your reading and exploration experience.

This guide demonstrates how to use the Medium API to search for lists based on a specific query. As a practical example, we'll look at searching for "productivity" lists. By the end, you'll understand how the code works, how to run it, and how you can use it for various purposes.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the implementation, ensure you have the following:

Node.js Installed: Download and install Node.js from nodejs.org.
Medium API Access: Obtain an API key from the Medium API platform.

How to Subscribe to Medium API and Get Your API Key from RapidAPI Platform
Environment Variables Setup: Use a .env file to securely store your API key.
medium-api-js Package: Install this Medium API wrapper by running:
```
npm install medium-api-js
```
dotenv Package: Install dotenv to manage environment variables by running:
```
npm install dotenv
```

Code Breakdown and Explanation

Step 1: Import Required Modules

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

Medium: This is the Medium API wrapper that simplifies API interactions.
dotenv: This package loads environment variables from a .env file, helping you keep sensitive data secure.

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

dotenv.config();

dotenv.config(): Initializes dotenv, allowing the API key stored in the .env file to be accessible in the script.

Step 3: Initialize Medium API Client

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

process.env.RAPIDAPI_KEY: Retrieves the API key from the environment variables.
new Medium(): Creates an instance of the Medium API client, enabling API calls.

Step 4: Fetch and Display Search Results

medium.getSearchLists('productivity').then(data => {
    console.log('Search Results for Lists:', data);
});

getSearchLists('productivity'): Invokes the API to search for lists related to the query 'productivity'.
then(data => { ... }): Processes the API response and logs the results to the console.

Running the Code

To execute this script:

Save the code to a file, e.g., getSearchLists.js.
Ensure your .env file contains the following line:
```
RAPIDAPI_KEY=your_api_key_here
```
Run the script using the terminal:
```
node getSearchLists.js
```

Output Explanation

When the script runs, you'll see output similar to this:

lists: Contains an array of list IDs that match the search query.
search_query: Tells the query used for the search ("productivity" in this case).

Potential Use Cases

Content Discovery: Find lists on specific topics to curate articles for personal or professional use.
Custom Applications: Build applications that recommend lists to users based on their interests.
Enhanced User Experience: Integrate list searches into platforms that aggregate Medium content.

Summary

Searching for lists on Medium is a powerful way to uncover curated content tailored to your interests. This guide provided a detailed walkthrough of the process, from setting up your environment to running the code and interpreting its output.

For further questions or assistance, feel free to reach out at nishu@mediumapi.com. Enjoy exploring Medium's rich content ecosystem!