Trakt API

The Trakt API is a powerful RESTful interface that allows developers to interact with Trakt.tv, a platform for tracking movies and TV shows. It provides access to user watch history, trending content, ratings, recommendations, lists, and social interactions across media consumption.

Documentation: Trakt API Docs

Key Features & Capabilities

• Access movie and TV show metadata, including ratings, genres, people, and images.
• Retrieve trending, popular, and most-watched titles.
• Track and manage a user’s watch history, progress, and collections.
• Scrobble playback (start, pause, stop events).
• Get or modify user lists, ratings, and comments.
• Sync user activity across multiple platforms or devices.
• Integrate with third-party apps for personalized content tracking.

Authentication & Authorization

Trakt uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication and user-specific actions.

Common OAuth Flows

• Authorization Code Flow Required for user-based endpoints (read/write to watch history, lists, etc.).
• Device Code Flow Ideal for devices or apps without a web browser.
• API Key (Client ID) For public endpoints (metadata, trending, etc.), no user auth required.

Include credentials in headers:

Authorization: Bearer {access_token}
trakt-api-version: 2
trakt-api-key: {client_id}

Typical Request Structure

• Base URL: https://api.trakt.tv/

• Common endpoints:

  • GET /movies/trending
  • GET /shows/popular
  • GET /users/{username}/watched/movies
  • POST /scrobble/start
  • POST /checkin

All requests must include trakt-api-version and trakt-api-key headers.

Rate Limits & Policies

• Trakt enforces rate limits (usually 1,000 requests per 5 minutes per IP).
• Exceeding limits results in 429 Too Many Requests.
• Always handle retries and respect user rate quotas.

Use Cases & Integration

• Portfolio or personal dashboards showing currently watched movies or recent activity.
• Media tracker apps for monitoring watch progress or syncing with local media servers (e.g., Plex, Kodi).
• Recommendation systems using trending and popular endpoints.
• Integrations with social feeds showing what users are currently watching.
• Smart home displays showing now-watching status.

Example: Get Trending Movies

Request:

GET https://api.trakt.tv/movies/trending
trakt-api-version: 2
trakt-api-key: {client_id}

Sample JSON Response (simplified):

[
  {
    "watchers": 3518,
    "movie": {
      "title": "Dune: Part Two",
      "year": 2024,
      "ids": {
        "trakt": 123456,
        "slug": "dune-part-two-2024",
        "imdb": "tt15239678",
        "tmdb": 693134
      }
    }
  }
]

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages

• Rich metadata for both movies and TV shows
• Easy integration for personal projects or dashboards
• Supports both user and public endpoints
• Active community with existing client libraries (JavaScript, Python, etc.)

Limitations

• Some endpoints require OAuth user authentication
• Strict rate limiting
• Limited official SDKs (you often have to build requests manually)

Purpose

This API can be used to show your currently watched movie or series directly on your portfolio or website adding a personal, dynamic touch similar to “Now Playing on Spotify.” You can see it in action via integration with Trakt data, e.g. “Currently Watching: Dune: Part Two” embedded in your portfolio.