Merchants are responsible for complying with the Shopping ads and free listings policies. Google Shopping reserves the right to enforce these policies and respond appropriately if we find content or behavior that violates these policies.
See the left navigation menu for guides to help you get started with the Content API for Shopping, and our reference documentation for full details on all available features.
Client libraries
We recommend using the Google API client libraries when deploying the Content API for Shopping. The client libraries are available for many popular programming languages and simplify common API tasks including the following:
Authorizing users
Sending requests
Parsing responses
Code samples in this guide are in Python.
For a list of available client libraries and code samples, see Samples and Libraries.
Initial setup
This guide covers the basic steps to get started with the Content API and make your first API call:
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-13 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe Merchant API is the new version of the Content API for Shopping and provides automated Google Merchant Center account management.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUse the Merchant API to upload products, manage inventory, manage Merchant Center accounts, and link your inventory to Google Ads.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eMerchants are responsible for complying with Shopping ads and free listings policies.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eGoogle provides client libraries and code samples in various programming languages to simplify API integration.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo get started, set up your Merchant Center account, set up a client library, make an API call, and explore the Content API using provided guides.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["The beta version of the Merchant API, the new Content API for Shopping, allows users to automate Google Merchant Center account management. Key actions include uploading products, managing inventory and accounts, and linking inventory to Google Ads. After uploading products, they can be promoted in Shopping campaigns. Merchants must adhere to Shopping ads and free listings policies. The API can be used with Google API client libraries, and the initial setup involves configuring the Merchant Center account, setting up a client library, making an API call and exploring the Content API.\n"],null,["| Meet the [Merchant API (beta)](/merchant/api) - the official successor to the Content\n| API for Shopping.\n|\n|\n| [Get the latest](/merchant/api/latest-updates) on new features, bug fixes, and release\n| updates of the Merchant API (beta).\n|\n|\n| Learn how to manage your business and products on Google and how to get programmatic access to\n| data, insights, and unique capabilities at scale. [Get\n| started now](/merchant/api/guides/quickstart)\n\nYou can use the Content API for Shopping to automate\n[Google Merchant Center](//merchants.google.com/) account management.\n\nHere are some things you can do with the Content API for Shopping:\n\n- Upload products\n- Manage inventory\n- Manage Merchant Center accounts\n- Link your inventory to [Google Ads](//ads.google.com)\n\nAfter uploading products, you can take advantage of other\n[Google for Retail solutions](//google.com/retail/solutions/), like promoting\nyour products in\n[Shopping campaigns](//support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2454022).\n\nMerchants are responsible for complying with the [Shopping\nads](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/6149970) and [free\nlistings](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/9261529) policies. Google\nShopping reserves the right to enforce these policies and respond appropriately\nif we find content or behavior that violates these policies.\n\nSee the left navigation menu for guides to help you get started with the Content\nAPI for Shopping, and our [reference\ndocumentation](/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1) for full details on all\navailable features.\n\nClient libraries\n\nWe recommend using the [Google API client libraries](/api-client-library) when\ndeploying the Content API for Shopping. The client libraries are available for\nmany popular programming languages and simplify common API tasks including the\nfollowing:\n\n- Authorizing users\n- Sending requests\n- Parsing responses\n\nCode samples in this guide are in Python.\n\nFor a list of available client libraries and code samples, see\n[Samples and Libraries](/shopping-content/guides/libraries).\n\nInitial setup\n\nThis guide covers the basic steps to get started with the Content API and make\nyour first API call:\n\n- [Setting up your Merchant Center account](/shopping-content/guides/quickstart/setting-up-your-merchant-center-account)\n- [Setting up a client library](/shopping-content/guides/quickstart/setting-up-a-client-library)\n- [Making an API call](/shopping-content/guides/quickstart/making-an-api-call)\n- [Exploring the Content API](/shopping-content/guides/quickstart/exploring-the-content-api)"]]