# Wayback Machine API > Wayback Machine returns archived web pages and website snapshots, available as a workflow and API. Wayback Machine’s Get archived page returns a page’s closest archived version to a requested date, given a website address and date. List snapshots returns archived captures, status details, and content changes for a website address, with optional date and result filters. - Page: https://fous.com/tools/wayback-machine - Handle: `@wayback-machine` - Category: [Data](https://fous.com/tools/category/data) - Source website: https://web.archive.org - Last verified: Sep 29, 2026 ## Methods ### Get archived page Operation `get_archived_page`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. See the closest available archived version of a web page to a past date, with its title and readable text. Month and year dates use their first day; the nearest capture may fall outside the requested period. **Input** | Field | Type | Required | Example | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `date` | string | yes | `"2019-08-12"` | Past date as YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY-MM or YYYY, for example 2019-08-12. | | `page` | string | yes | `"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace"` | Website address to view, for example nike.com/pricing or https://example.com/. | **Input schema** ```json { "type": "object", "required": [ "page", "date" ], "properties": { "date": { "type": "string", "description": "Past date as YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY-MM or YYYY, for example 2019-08-12.", "examples": [ "2019-08-12", "2019-03-01", "2019" ] }, "page": { "type": "string", "minLength": 3, "description": "Website address to view, for example nike.com/pricing or https://example.com/.", "examples": [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace", "example.com", "https://www.wikipedia.org/" ] } }, "additionalProperties": false, "examples": [ { "date": "2019-08-12", "page": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace" }, { "date": "2019-03-01", "page": "example.com" }, { "date": "2019", "page": "example.com" } ] } ``` **Output** | Field | Type | Example | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `days_away` | integer | `1` | Number of calendar days between the requested date and capture date. | | `main_text` | string | `"Example Domain\nThis domain is established to be used for illustrative examples in documents. You may use this domain i` | Readable text from the archived page, up to 20,000 characters. | | `page_title` | string or null | `"Ada Lovelace - Wikipedia"` | Title from the archived page, if present. | | `snapshot_url` | string | `"https://web.archive.org/web/20190811044413/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace"` | Link to the captured page in the Wayback Machine. | | `snapshot_datetime` | string | `"2019-08-11T04:44:13+00:00"` | Closest archived capture date and time in UTC (ISO 8601). | **Example input** ```json { "date": "2019-08-12", "page": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace" } ``` **Example output** ```json { "days_away": 1, "main_text": "Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace ( née Byron ; 10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852) was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage 's proposed mechanical …", "page_title": "Ada Lovelace - Wikipedia", "snapshot_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20190811044413/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace", "snapshot_datetime": "2019-08-11T04:44:13+00:00" } ``` ### List snapshots Operation `list_snapshots`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. List archived captures of a web page, oldest first, with HTTP status and content changes. The total counts matching captures before the result limit; the first capture is retained as a baseline, with content_changed false. A change is determined by comparing consecutive archived content digests; missing digests cannot establish a change. **Input** | Field | Type | Required | Example | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `page` | string | yes | `"openai.com/pricing"` | Website address to look up, for example openai.com/pricing. | | `to_date` | string | no | `"2023-02-28"` | Last capture date to include, for example 2023-12-31. Omit for all later dates. | | `from_date` | string | no | `"2023-02-27"` | First capture date to include, for example 2023-02-01. Omit for all earlier dates. | | `max_results` | integer | no | `2` | Maximum captures returned, for example 50. The total still counts all matching captures. | | `changes_only` | boolean | no | `false` | Include only the first capture and later captures with changed content, for example true. | **Input schema** ```json { "type": "object", "required": [ "page" ], "properties": { "page": { "type": "string", "description": "Website address to look up, for example openai.com/pricing.", "examples": [ "openai.com/pricing", "example.com/somethingunlikely123412341234" ] }, "to_date": { "type": "string", "format": "date", "description": "Last capture date to include, for example 2023-12-31. Omit for all later dates.", "examples": [ "2023-02-28", "2020-12-31" ] }, "from_date": { "type": "string", "format": "date", "description": "First capture date to include, for example 2023-02-01. Omit for all earlier dates.", "examples": [ "2023-02-27", "2020-01-01" ] }, "max_results": { "type": "integer", "default": 50, "maximum": 1000, "minimum": 1, "description": "Maximum captures returned, for example 50. The total still counts all matching captures.", "x-fous-developer": true, "examples": [ 2 ] }, "changes_only": { "type": "boolean", "default": true, "description": "Include only the first capture and later captures with changed content, for example true.", "examples": [ false ] } }, "additionalProperties": false, "examples": [ { "page": "openai.com/pricing", "to_date": "2023-02-28", "from_date": "2023-02-27", "max_results": 2, "changes_only": false }, { "page": "example.com/somethingunlikely123412341234", "to_date": "2020-12-31", "from_date": "2020-01-01" }, { "page": "openai.com/pricing", "to_date": "2023-02-28", "from_date": "2023-02-27" } ] } ``` **Output** | Field | Type | Example | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `snapshots` | array | | | | `snapshots[].http_status` | string or null | `"200 OK"` | Archived HTTP status number and name, if recorded. | | `snapshots[].snapshot_link` | string | `"https://web.archive.org/web/20230227230602/https://openai.com/pricing"` | Link to the archived page. | | `snapshots[].content_digest` | string or null | `"AJMLKGSJXNTXTRO73KBQ6UIESMDFJO7K"` | Archived content digest, if recorded. | | `snapshots[].content_changed` | boolean | `false` | Whether the content digest differs from the previous capture within the date range. | | `snapshots[].http_status_code` | integer or null | `200` | Archived HTTP status number, if recorded. | | `snapshots[].snapshot_datetime` | string | `"2023-02-27T23:06:02Z"` | Capture time in UTC. | | `total_snapshots` | integer | `5` | Number of matching captures after change filtering, before the result limit. | **Example input** ```json { "page": "openai.com/pricing", "to_date": "2023-02-28", "from_date": "2023-02-27", "max_results": 2, "changes_only": false } ``` **Example output** ```json { "snapshots": [ { "http_status": "200 OK", "snapshot_link": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230227230602/https://openai.com/pricing", "content_digest": "AJMLKGSJXNTXTRO73KBQ6UIESMDFJO7K", "content_changed": false, "http_status_code": 200, "snapshot_datetime": "2023-02-27T23:06:02Z" }, { "http_status": "200 OK", "snapshot_link": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230228014742/https://openai.com/pricing", "content_digest": "JXR2SYZQHQ5WPR2JFYRWMQCFVWRZB4EB", "content_changed": true, "http_status_code": 200, "snapshot_datetime": "2023-02-28T01:47:42Z" } ], "total_snapshots": 5 } ``` ## Quick start Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data. ```bash curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \ --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ --data-raw '{ "api": "@wayback-machine", "visibility": "public", "operation": "get_archived_page", "version": 1, "input": { "date": "2019-08-12", "page": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace" }, "response": { "format": "json" } }' ``` ```python # Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed. import json import urllib.error import urllib.request api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY" body = json.loads("{\n \"api\": \"@wayback-machine\",\n \"visibility\": \"public\",\n \"operation\": \"get_archived_page\",\n \"version\": 1,\n \"input\": {\n \"date\": \"2019-08-12\",\n \"page\": \"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace\"\n },\n \"response\": {\n \"format\": \"json\"\n }\n}") request = urllib.request.Request( "https://api.fous.com/v1/query", data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"), headers={ "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}", "Content-Type": "application/json", }, method="POST", ) try: with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response: result = json.load(response) except urllib.error.HTTPError as error: raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error if result.get("success") is False: raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed")) print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2)) ``` ```typescript // Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts. const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY"; const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", { method: "POST", headers: { "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`, "Content-Type": "application/json", }, signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000), body: JSON.stringify({ "api": "@wayback-machine", "visibility": "public", "operation": "get_archived_page", "version": 1, "input": { "date": "2019-08-12", "page": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace" }, "response": { "format": "json" } }), }); type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } }; const result: ApiResult = await response.json(); if (!response.ok || result.success === false) { throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`); } if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data"); console.log(result.data.output); ``` ## Use from an AI assistant Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input. - Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/wayback-machine` - Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer ` **Tools** - `get_archived_page`: Get archived page. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. - `list_snapshots`: List snapshots. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. - `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free. Claude Code: ```bash claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-wayback-machine https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/wayback-machine --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}" ``` To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt. ## Use cases - Review how a web page appeared on a past date - Track archived captures of a website over time - Identify captures with changed content - Compare archived page titles and readable text - Check archived HTTP status details ## FAQ ### Can I run it with my own inputs? Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant. ### Can I call this Wayback Machine tool as an API? Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back. ### How much does it cost? Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit. ### Do I need a Wayback Machine account? No. You only need a Fous account. ### How current is the data? Fous gets the data from web.archive.org when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026. ### What did a web page look like on a past date? Get archived page returns the closest available archived version to the requested date, including its title and readable text when present. ### When was a website captured in the archive? List snapshots returns archived capture dates for a website, with optional date filters. ### Which archived captures had changed content? List snapshots can include the first capture and later captures with changed content when changes-only filtering is requested. ## Related - [Merriam-Webster API](https://fous.com/tools/merriam-webster.md): Merriam-Webster provides definitions, pronunciations, examples, word histories, synonyms, antonyms, and related words for publicly listed entries, plus Word of the Day entries for today or published archive dates. - [NASA API](https://fous.com/tools/nasa.md): NASA provides astronomy pictures from June 16, 1995 onward, up to 100 media matches, inclusive UTC asteroid approaches, recent approximate natural events, and upcoming ISS sightings for listed cities. - [Wikipedia API](https://fous.com/tools/wikipedia.md): Wikipedia returns article summaries, images, facts, relevant search matches, readable text and daily historical events, plus human-view counts from July 2015 onward. - [Weather Underground API](https://fous.com/tools/weather-underground.md): Historical and current weather conditions from stations worldwide. - [BuiltWith API](https://fous.com/tools/builtwith.md): Discover technologies used by websites. - [AP News API](https://fous.com/tools/ap-news.md): AP News provides reporting, up to 50 public-page headlines, searchable articles visible in its search, and full text when accessible. - [The Verge API](https://fous.com/tools/the-verge.md): The Verge provides technology, science, entertainment, and policy headlines and searchable articles, including public stories and older archives, with search limited to the first 100 matches. - [arXiv API](https://fous.com/tools/arxiv.md): arXiv returns up to 100 matching research preprints or individual paper details, and newly announced subject papers in announcement order; announcement dates may differ from today, and replacements are excluded. - [All Data tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/data)