URL Resolver

URL Resolver

In the realm of Facebook API integrations, one critical aspect to grasp is the necessity of having an object's ID to interact with various endpoints. This article aims to clarify this requirement and introduce a handy tool, the URL Resolver, that simplifies the process.

Why Do We Need an ID?

To interact with Facebook's API, especially when aiming to access data related to a specific object (like a user profile, a page, etc.), it's crucial to know the object's unique identifier, commonly known as the 'ID'. This ID is a cornerstone in API requests, as it ensures that your query is directed towards the correct entity.

The Role of the URL Resolver

Often, we start with just a URL of a Facebook page or profile, without knowing its corresponding ID. This is where the URL Resolver becomes an invaluable tool. It serves as an intermediary that takes a Facebook URL and returns the object's ID, making it much easier to proceed with further API requests.

Endpoint

GET api/v1/realtime/social/facebook/v1/url-resolver?url={{url}}/

Parameters

Param	Required	Param Type	Description
url	No	Query Param	Any facebook.com URL

Example Request

curl -X GET 'https://api.webit.live/api/v1/realtime/social/facebook/v1/url-resolver?url=https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficeTV/' \
--header 'Authorization: Basic <credential string>'

Example Response

{
    "data": {
        "urlResolver": {
            "__typename": "User",
            "strong_id__": "100064561399464",
            "id": "100064561399464"
        }
    },
    "extensions": {
        "server_metadata": {
            "request_start_time_ms": 1728402472393,
            "time_at_flush_ms": 1728402472432
        },
        "is_final": true
    }
}

Navigating Endpoint Responses and Their Implications

An important aspect to be mindful of while working with URL Resolver is understanding the nature of the link type indicated in the response. When you submit a URL to the URL Resolver, you might expect it to be recognized as a page. However, the response could categorize the link as a user (e.g., `__typename": "User"`), even if the original URL was indeed that of a page.

What Does This Mean for API Interaction?

If the URL Resolver identifies the link as a user object, despite it being a page URL, this classification impacts how you should proceed with your API interactions. In such scenarios, you are required to utilize endpoints that are designed for interacting with user profiles. This distinction is crucial as it ensures that your subsequent API requests are formatted correctly and directed toward the appropriate endpoint.

Why is this Happening?

This behavior stems from Facebook's aforementioned shift in treating many pages as user objects. While this might seem confusing at first, it's part of the platform's evolving architecture aimed at streamlining various types of entities under a unified framework.

How to utilize Page Endpoints for a Page in the disguise of a User?

In situations where page endpoints are required to be used, but the URL resolver indicates that the object is a user, a request can be made to the endpoint `Profiles/About`. From this endpoint, it's possible to extract the identifier delegate_page_id in the path: `data.user.delegate_page_id`.

This identifier allows the use of page endpoints even when the URL resolver says that the object is of a user type. Consequently, this approach enables the retrieval of information that may only be available through the dedicated endpoints of a page.

Conclusion

When dealing with Facebook's API, especially when parsing responses from the URL Resolver, always pay close attention to the object type returned. This will guide you in choosing the correct endpoints for your subsequent requests, ensuring efficient and error-free API interactions.