# PyPI API: Search packages

> Searches PyPI by keywords and returns matching packages in relevance order, each with its latest version and that version's release date. Returns up to 100 results.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by PyPI.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/pypi.org/search-packages
- Method: `pypi.org/search_packages`, version 1
- Website: pypi.org
- Returns: name, latest version, description, release date, PyPI link
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `query` | string | yes | `"pdf parsing"` | Keywords to find packages, for example pdf parsing. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `25` | Maximum packages to return, for example 25. Default 20. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 31, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "query": "pdf parsing",
  "max_results": 25
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "packages": [
    {
      "name": "parsing",
      "pypi_link": "https://pypi.org/project/parsing/",
      "description": "LR(1) parser generator for Python and CFSM and GLR parser drivers",
      "release_date": "2023-11-24",
      "latest_version": "2.0.4"
    },
    {
      "name": "shinny-parsing",
      "pypi_link": "https://pypi.org/project/shinny-parsing/",
      "description": "parse settlement file",
      "release_date": "2024-12-03",
      "latest_version": "0.0.4"
    },
    {
      "name": "argument-parsing",
      "pypi_link": "https://pypi.org/project/argument-parsing/",
      "description": "A zero dependency argument parser written in python.",
      "release_date": "2024-05-16",
      "latest_version": "1.0.1"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"pypi.org/search_packages","input":{"query":"pdf parsing","max_results":25}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Find Python packages for parsing PDF files and show me their latest versions and release dates
- Search PyPI for async HTTP client libraries, top 10 results
- What libraries exist for reading and writing Excel spreadsheets in Python? Give me up to 30 with descriptions
- Look up packages matching 'telegram bot framework' on pypi.org and include links to each one
- I need a list of 50 Python libraries related to geospatial raster processing, with when each was last released

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Keywords to find packages, for example pdf parsing."
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum packages to return, for example 25."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "packages"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "packages": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "latest_version",
          "description",
          "release_date",
          "pypi_link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "pypi_link": {
            "type": "string",
            "format": "uri"
          },
          "description": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "release_date": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "format": "date"
          },
          "latest_version": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [PyPI API: Get package](https://fous.com/methods/pypi.org/get-package.md): Gets a PyPI package's current version, release date, metadata, project links and its 10 most recently published versions from a package name or PyPI link.
- [npm API: Search packages](https://fous.com/methods/npmjs.com/search-packages.md): Searches the npm registry for JavaScript packages by description or keywords, in npm's search order, and returns each package's latest version, weekly downloads and publish date.
- [Pinterest API: Search pins](https://fous.com/methods/pinterest.com/search-pins.md): Finds Pinterest pins for an idea in search order, with image, creator, board, saves and linked website. Limited to the first public search page.
- [crates.io API: Search crates](https://fous.com/methods/crates.io/search-crates.md): Finds Rust crates on crates.io by keywords, sorted by relevance, total downloads, recent downloads, or newest creation.
- [Product Hunt API: Search products](https://fous.com/methods/producthunt.com/search-products.md): Finds Product Hunt products by name or by what they do, in Product Hunt search order, with tagline, review rating, review count, followers and topics. Ratings are null for products without reviews.
- [Google API: Search Google Play apps](https://fous.com/methods/play.google.com/search-apps.md): Finds Android apps on Google Play by keywords, in Play search order, with each listing's developer, star rating, price and currency for the chosen country, download range and link. Results are limited to apps shown on the public search page.
- [GitHub API: Search repositories](https://fous.com/methods/github.com/search-repositories.md): Finds public GitHub repositories by keywords, with an optional language filter and sort order. Returns up to 100 matches.
- [Bing API: Search the web](https://fous.com/methods/bing.com/search-web.md): Searches Bing and returns web results in the order shown, with snippets, answer-box text when available, and related searches.
- [All PyPI methods](https://fous.com/methods/pypi.org.md)