# Zhihu Column Search API

> Searches Zhihu columns matching a specified query term. Returns matching column profiles, follower counts, article totals, and snippet highlights with pagination support.

Source: https://www.sandbase.ai/apis/zhihu/web/column-search-v3
API reference: https://www.sandbase.ai/apis/zhihu/web/column-search-v3/docs

## Facts

- Provider: Zhihu
- Type: Data API
- Endpoint: `POST https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/zhihu/web/column-search-v3`
- Price: $0.0015 per call
- Free allowance: 100 calls per organization per UTC day, shared across eligible APIs
- Capabilities: api, zhihu
- Billing: pay per use from one SandBase balance; no provider account or subscription needed

## Call it

`POST https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/zhihu/web/column-search-v3` with `Authorization: Bearer $SANDBASE_API_KEY` and the parameters as a JSON body.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Allowed values |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `keyword` | string | yes |  |
| `limit` | string | no |  |
| `offset` | string | no |  |
| `search_hash_id` | string | no |  |

## FAQ

### How do I use the Zhihu Column Search API?

Send a POST request to https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/zhihu/web/column-search-v3 with your SandBase API key in the Authorization header (Bearer) and the parameters as a JSON body. You can also try it in the Playground on this page without writing code.

### How much does the Zhihu Column Search API cost?

$0.0015 per call. Every organization gets 100 free calls per UTC day, shared across eligible SandBase APIs including this one; after that each call is billed at this price from your SandBase balance. There is no subscription.

### What parameters does the Zhihu Column Search API accept?

Required: keyword (string). Optional: limit (string), offset (string) and search_hash_id (string). The Parameters table and the Playground on this page list every field.

### What does the Zhihu Column Search API return?

A JSON response returned in the same HTTP request (synchronous). The README on this page includes a sample response.

### Do I need a Zhihu developer account or API key?

No. Zhihu Column Search runs through SandBase, so one SandBase API key covers this endpoint and every other API and model in the catalog. You do not need to apply for Zhihu API access separately.

## README

### Zhihu Column Search API

Query Zhihu columns by passing a search term into `keyword`. You can paginate through matches using `offset` and `limit`.

#### Use cases

- Discover topic-focused Zhihu columns by keyword.
- Track column follower counts and publication volume.
- Retrieve Zhihu column identifiers and descriptions for market research.

#### Request

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.sandbase.ai/v1/api/zhihu/web/column-search-v3" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SANDBASE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"keyword": "OpenAI"}'
```

#### Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `keyword` | string | Yes | Search Keywords |
| `limit` | string | No | Number of columns per page |
| `offset` | string | No | Offset |
| `search_hash_id` | string | No | Search Hash ID |

#### Example response

Real response for the request above, trimmed to the main fields. User names and long IDs are masked.

```json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "openai",
      "type": "search_result",
      "highlight": {
        "content": "介绍 OpenAI 的一些工作",
        "description": "介绍 OpenAI 的一些工作",
        "title": "OpenAI"
      },
      "object": {
        "articles_count": 5,
        "column_type": "normal",
        "description": "介绍 OpenAI 的一些工作",
        "followers": 3153,
        "id": "openai",
        "image_url": "https://pica.zhimg.com/v2-9d09bc4b22fc4a71c21e789f77effb48_r.jpg?source=4e949a73"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

#### Notes

- Supports pagination via `limit` to control page size and `offset` to navigate pages.
- Requires `keyword` as the search query parameter.
- Accepts an optional `search_hash_id` parameter.

#### Related APIs

- [Zhihu AI Search Stream](/model/zhihu/web/ai-search-stream): Returns streaming AI search results from Zhihu based on a query prompt.
- [Zhihu Answer Details](/model/zhihu/web/answer-detail): Retrieves detailed information for a specific Zhihu answer using its numeric ID, including answer text, timestamps, and share links.
- [Zhihu Article Search](/model/zhihu/web/article-search-v3): Search Zhihu articles and answers by keyword and get titles, excerpts, authors, vote and comment counts, with sorting, content type and time filters plus offse…