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Softonic API

Softonic Search

This function returns the results (if any) for a given search string.

Note that the hostname of this function is different of the rest of API methods.

http://<hostname>/s/<words>(:<platform>)/(:<mobile-os>)/<format>(/<page_number>)

TIP: The easiest way create complex search URLs is by searching directly in any Softonic website, then apply all the desired filtering and finally add the "xml" or "json" parameter in the right place of the URL.

Parameters

  • <hostname>: An http address, see the section below for the whole list
  • <words>: Words you want to search. Use hyphens "-" as word separators. E.g: "free-dvd-recorder"
  • <platform> [optional]: Windows assumed if empty. Platform to search (depends on the hostname, see below).
  • <mobile-os> [optional]: If a mobile platform is chosen operating system can be specified as well
  • <format>: Returning format: xml, json or php
  • <page_number> [optional]: Number > 1, assumed page 1 when empty

Valid platforms per hostname

When no platform is specified the results belong to Windows platform. Here there is a list of available platforms per host. The platforms available match with every Softonic site tab.

  • <Es> http://www.softonic.com: mac, linux, palm, pocketpc, movil
  • <En> http://en.softonic.com: mac, palm, pocketpc, phones
  • <It> http://www.softonic.it: mac, palm, pocketpc, cellulari
  • <Br> http://www.softonic.com.br: mac, palm, pocketpc, celular
  • <Fr> http://www.softonic.fr: mac, palm, pocketpc, mobiles
  • <De> http://www.softonic.de: mac, palm, pocketpc, handys
  • <Pl> http://www.softonic.pl: mac, telefony
  • <Nl> http://nl.softonic.com: mac, mobiel
  • <JP> http://www.softonic.jp: mobile

Examples of search

Here there are some examples on how to construct search URLs:

Example 1: XML Search on Spanish Mac section, page 2

Example 2: JSON Search on English Windows section, page 1

  • <hostname>: http://en.softonic.com
  • <words>: mp3
  • <platform>: (empty because we want windows)
  • <format>: json
  • <page_number>: (we leave it empty to take the first page)
  • Resulting URL: http://en.softonic.com/s/mp3/json

Example 3: XML Search on Deutsch site for Android Mobiles, page 1

XML Response example

The response returns the search information with the total number of results that you have to use to create a pagination system.

Example of a request that searches "mp3" in the platform Windows:

http://www.softonic.com/s/mp3/xml
 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Softonic>
<search_results>
	<total_search_results>1814</total_search_results>
	<items_per_page>10</items_per_page>
	<current_page>1</current_page>
	<total_pages>182</total_pages>
	<list>
		<program id="id_program">
		<platform_name>Windows</platform_name>
		<name>Program name</name>
		<url>program_url</url>
		<url_thumbnail>program_thumbnail</url_thumbnail>
		<description>Program description ...</description>
		<language locale="en_GB">Inglés</language>
		<license>Gratis</license>
		<add_date>09/06/09</add_date>
		<num_total_downloads>13.035</num_total_downloads>
		<num_weekly_downloads>2.017</num_weekly_downloads>
		<softonic_rating>7</softonic_rating>
		<user_rating>N.D.</user_rating>
		<num_opinions/>
		<url_opinions>opinions_url</url_opinions>
		<operative_system>XP/Vista/7</operative_system>
		<url_download>download_url</url_download>
		lt;/program>
		...
	</list>
	<related_categories>
		<category_path>
		<category>
		<text>Windows</text>
		<url>http://api2.softonic.com/</url>
		</category>
		...
		</category_path>
	</related_categories>
	<related_searches>
		<search>
		<text>music mp3</text>
		<url>http://api2.softonic.com/s/music-mp3</url>
		</search>
		...
	</related_searches>
</search_results>
</Softonic>