We have deprecated our Metadata API and encourage you to migrate to the Web API. Here we show how the Metadata API endpoints map to the new Web API.
The Spotify Web API exposes metadata not previously available through the Metadata API, such as artist images, album cover art and 30 seconds audio previews of tracks. The following tables show the mapping between the old and new APIs, including an overview of the metadata returned by each endpoint.
(In addition to extended metadata, the Web API also provides access to other Spotify data such as user details and playlists.)
Note that the new Web API does not provide responses in XML format: all requests return data in JSON format only.
Service Overview
| Metadata API (deprecated) | Web API |
|---|---|
| Lookup Service | Get an album Get an artist Get a track |
| Search Service | Search for an album Search for an artist Search for a track |
Endpoint Comparison
Metadata API (deprecated) http://ws.spotify.com | Web API https://api.spotify.com |
|---|---|
| Lookup an artist /lookup/1/.json?{uri} Spotify URI (href) Name | Get an artist /v1/artists/{id} Spotify URI Name External links Genres API endpoint link Spotify ID Artist images Popularity |
| Lookup an artist's albums /lookup/1/.json?{uri}&extras=album Album name Spotify URI Availability | Get an artist's albums /v1/artists/{id}/albums Album name Spotify URI Album type (single, compilation...) External links API endpoint links Spotify IDs Album cover art images Use Get an album to see available markets. |
| Lookup an artist's album details /lookup/1/.json?uri={uri}&extras=albumdetail Album name Spotify URI External links Spotify IDs External IDs Availability Release date | Get an artist's albums /v1/artists/{id}/albums Album name Spotify URI External links Spotify IDs API endpoint links Album cover art images Album type (single, compilation...) Use Get an album to see available markets, external IDs, release date, popularity, etc. |
| Lookup an album /lookup/1/.json?{uri} Artist ID Album name Artist name External IDs Release date Spotify URI Availability | Get an album /v1/albums/{id} Artist ID(s) Album name Artist name(s) External IDs Release date Spotify URI Available markets Track URIs Track artists Track names Track duration Disc number Popularity 30 second preview Album type (single, compilation...) External URLs Genres API endpoint links Album cover art |
| Lookup an album's tracks /lookup/1/.json?{uri} Artist ID Album name Artist name External IDs Release date Spotify URI Availability Track URIs Track artists Track names | Get an album /v1/albums/{id} Artist ID(s) Album name Artist name(s) External IDs Release date Spotify URI Available markets Track URIs Track artists Track names Track duration Disc number Popularity 30 second preview Album type (single, compilation...) External URLs Genres API endpoint links Album cover art |
| Lookup an album's track details /lookup/1/.json?{uri}&extras=trackdetail Artist ID Album name Artist name External IDs Release date Spotify URI Availability Track URIs Track artists Track names Track duration Disc number Popularity | Get an album /v1/albums/{id} Artist ID(s) Album name Artist name(s) External IDs Release date Spotify URI Available markets Track URIs Track artists Track names Track duration Disc number Popularity 30 second preview Album type (single, compilation...) External URLs Genres API endpoint links Album cover art |
| Lookup a Track /lookup/1/.json?{uri} Album URI Album name Artist names Artist URIs Availability Track number Track name Popularity External IDs Length Track URI Album release date | Get a track /v1/tracks/{id} Album URI Album name Artist names Artist URIs Available markets Track number Track name Popularity External IDs Duration Track URI Disc number Explicit lyrics External URLs Track API endpoint link Track ID 30 second preview Album type (single, compilation...) Album external links Album API endpoint link Album ID Album cover art Artist links Artist API endpoint links Artist IDs Use Get an album to see release date. |
| Search albums /search/1/album.json?q=foo Album names Spotify URIs Artist URIs Artist names External IDs Popularity Availability | Search for an album /v1/search?q=foo&type=album Album names Spotify URIs Album type (single, compilation...) External URLs Album API endpoint links Album IDs Album cover art images Use Get an album to see artist URIs, artist names, availability, external IDs, popularity, etc. |
| Search artists /search/1/artist.json?q=foo Artist URIs Artist names Artist popularity | Search for an artist /v1/search?q=foo&type=artist Artist URIs Artist names Artist popularity External URLs Genres Artist API endpoint links Artist Spotify IDs Artist images |
| Search tracks /search/1/track.json?q=foo Album URI Album names External links Track Spotify URIs Track names Track popularity Track duration Track numbers Track URIs Artist names Artist URIs External IDs Availability Album release date | Search for a track /v1/search?q=foo&type=track Album URIs Album names External links Track Spotify URIs Track names Track popularity Track duration Track numbers Track URIs Artist names Artist URIs External IDs Available markets Disc number Explicit lyrics Track API endpoint link 30 second preview Album type (single, compilation...) Album external links Album API endpoint link Album ID Album cover art Artist links Artist API endpoint links Artist IDs Use Get an album to see release date. |