Google Books ISBN Lookup API turns one to ten ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 values into Google Books volume ids with viewability (full, partial, none or unknown), embeddable, can_download_pdf, can_download_epub, thumbnail_url, cover_url, info_url and preview_url. An ISBN that Google Books does not know is left out of items; requested and found show the counts. Pass the volume id to the volume route for the full record.
Credits: 1 credit per successful request. Failed requests are not billed.
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Endpoint
Parameters
Start with the required fields, then add optional filters only when your use case needs them.
Runnable path
1 required parameter needed before sending a request.
string
Required
One to ten ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 values, separated by commas. Hyphens are allowed.
example
Response Schema
Example response fields are illustrative; inspect the JSON before integrating.
Example response fields
Scan these fields before integrating.
data
meta
success
{
"data": {
"found": 1,
"items": [
{
"id": "nrRKDwAAQBAJ",
"isbn": "9780441172719",
"info_url": "https://books.google.com/books?id=nrRKDwAAQBAJ",
"cover_url": "https://books.google.com/books/content?id=nrRKDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1",
"embeddable": false,
"viewability": "none",
"thumbnail_url": "https://books.google.com/books/content?id=nrRKDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=5",
"can_download_pdf": false,
"can_download_epub": false
}
],
"requested": 1
},
"meta": {
"credits": 1,
"billable": true,
"endpoint_family": "isbn"
},
"success": true
}Errors
Handle these documented responses before retrying or showing customer-facing failures.
Validation Error
A parameter is missing, invalid or not supported. This response is not billable.
{
"errors": {
"isbn": [
"Send 1 to 10 ISBNs, separated by commas."
]
},
"message": "The request validation failed"
}Upstream Unavailable
Google Books could not be reached after several tries. This response is not billable and is retryable.
{
"meta": {
"billable": false,
"retryable": true,
"endpoint_family": "search"
},
"error": {
"code": "UPSTREAM_UNAVAILABLE",
"message": "Google Books could not be reached. Please retry shortly."
},
"success": false
}Generate Code with AI
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