# Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange Scraper (`dami_studio/stackexchange-scraper`) Actor Searches Stack Overflow and Stack Exchange sites (Server Fault, Super User, Ask Ubuntu, MathOverflow, Software Engineering) by keyword and/or tags and returns structured questions: title, score, answer count, views, tags, author, date, and the questi - **URL**: https://apify.com/dami\_studio/stackexchange-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Dami's Studio](https://apify.com/dami_studio) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Integrations, Other - **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 question returneds This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange Scraper Search **Stack Overflow** — or any of the big Stack Exchange sites (Server Fault, Super User, Ask Ubuntu, MathOverflow, Software Engineering) — by keyword and/or tags, and get back clean, structured questions. No API key, no login, no anti-bot. It talks to the public `api.stackexchange.com` API directly, so results are fast and reliable. It paginates for you, dedupes by question id, and returns the question body as plain text (HTML stripped). ### What you get per question `questionId`, `title`, `url`, `score`, `answerCount`, `viewCount`, `isAnswered`, `tags`, `ownerName`, `ownerReputation`, `createdAt` (ISO), and `body` (the question text, HTML stripped). ### Input | Field | Notes | |---|---| | `query` | Keywords (title + body). Optional if you give `tags`. | | `site` | `stackoverflow`, `serverfault`, `superuser`, `askubuntu`, `mathoverflow`, `softwareengineering`. | | `tags` | Comma-separated, e.g. `javascript,promise`. A question must carry **all** of them. | | `sortBy` | `votes` (default), `relevance`, `creation`, `activity`. | | `maxItems` | How many questions to collect (paginates the API in pages of 100). | You must provide a `query` **or** at least one `tag`. ### Output One dataset row per question. Empty searches return a single diagnostic row and **are not charged**. ### Example ```json { "query": "async await", "site": "stackoverflow", "tags": "javascript", "sortBy": "votes", "maxItems": 50 } ```` ### Notes The unauthenticated Stack Exchange API allows ~300 requests/day per IP. The actor respects the API's `backoff` directive (sleeps when asked) and stops cleanly when the daily quota is exhausted, returning a clear diagnostic instead of failing silently. For very large jobs, split by tag, keyword, or site. # Actor input Schema ## `query` (type: `string`): Keywords to search for in question titles and bodies (e.g. "async await", "git rebase conflict"). Can be left empty if you provide one or more Tags instead. ## `site` (type: `string`): Which Stack Exchange network site to search. ## `tags` (type: `string`): Comma-separated tags to filter by, e.g. "javascript,promise" or "python,pandas". Optional. A question must carry ALL listed tags. You can search by tags alone with an empty query. ## `sortBy` (type: `string`): Ordering of results. "votes" = highest score first, "relevance" = best keyword match, "creation" = newest, "activity" = most recently active. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of questions to return. The actor paginates the API (100 per page) until this many are collected or there are no more results. ## `notionConnector` (type: `string`): Optional. Write each question as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless. ## `notionParentId` (type: `string`): Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy used for the API requests. The Stack Exchange API is open (no anti-bot), so a proxy is optional; Apify Proxy is fine if you want one. ## Actor input object example ```json { "query": "async await", "site": "stackoverflow", "tags": "javascript", "sortBy": "votes", "maxItems": 50, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): Scraped rows are stored in the default dataset (one row per result). Blocked/empty/error runs return a single uncharged diagnostic row instead. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "query": "async await", "tags": "javascript" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dami_studio/stackexchange-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "query": "async await", "tags": "javascript", } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dami_studio/stackexchange-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "query": "async await", "tags": "javascript" }' | apify call dami_studio/stackexchange-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dami_studio/stackexchange-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange Scraper", "description": "Searches Stack Overflow and Stack Exchange sites (Server Fault, Super User, Ask Ubuntu, MathOverflow, Software Engineering) by keyword and/or tags and returns structured questions: title, score, answer count, views, tags, author, date, and the questi", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "KMxY9FAlF4yW04adE" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dami_studio~stackexchange-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dami_studio-stackexchange-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~stackexchange-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dami_studio-stackexchange-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~stackexchange-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dami_studio-stackexchange-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "Keywords to search for in question titles and bodies (e.g. \"async await\", \"git rebase conflict\"). Can be left empty if you provide one or more Tags instead." }, "site": { "title": "Stack Exchange site", "enum": [ "stackoverflow", "serverfault", "superuser", "askubuntu", "mathoverflow", "softwareengineering" ], "type": "string", "description": "Which Stack Exchange network site to search.", "default": "stackoverflow" }, "tags": { "title": "Tags", "type": "string", "description": "Comma-separated tags to filter by, e.g. \"javascript,promise\" or \"python,pandas\". Optional. A question must carry ALL listed tags. You can search by tags alone with an empty query." }, "sortBy": { "title": "Sort by", "enum": [ "relevance", "votes", "creation", "activity" ], "type": "string", "description": "Ordering of results. \"votes\" = highest score first, \"relevance\" = best keyword match, \"creation\" = newest, \"activity\" = most recently active.", "default": "votes" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max questions", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of questions to return. The actor paginates the API (100 per page) until this many are collected or there are no more results.", "default": 50 }, "notionConnector": { "title": "Notion connector (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. Write each question as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless." }, "notionParentId": { "title": "Notion target data source ID", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead." }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy used for the API requests. The Stack Exchange API is open (no anti-bot), so a proxy is optional; Apify Proxy is fine if you want one.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```