How to Get Real-Time Silver Bid (XAG-BID) - Per Ounce Prices with Metals-API
How to Get Real-Time Silver Bid (XAG-BID) - Per Ounce Prices with Metals-API
Metals-API provides a powerful solution for obtaining real-time silver bid prices and other essential data. This blog post will guide you through the process of accessing real-time silver market prices using Metals-API, including step-by-step instructions and example API calls.
About Silver (XAG)
Metals-API Overview
Metals-API is a comprehensive JSON API that provides access to real-time and historical prices for various metals, including silver. It offers a range of endpoints that cater to different needs, such as retrieving the latest rates, historical data, bid and ask prices, and more. The API is designed with developers in mind, providing the necessary tools to integrate metals data into applications seamlessly.
Key Features of Metals-API
- Latest Rates Endpoint: Depending on your subscription plan, this endpoint returns real-time exchange rate data updated every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This allows users to stay informed about the latest silver prices.
- Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates for silver dating back to 2019. You can query the API for historical rates by appending a specific date to the endpoint.
- Bid and Ask Endpoint: Retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for silver, enabling traders to make informed decisions based on current market conditions.
- Convert Endpoint: This feature allows you to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD, making it easier to analyze investments across different metals.
- Time-Series Endpoint: Query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice, providing insights into price trends over time.
- Fluctuation Endpoint: Track how silver prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, helping you understand market volatility.
- Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Get detailed OHLC data for silver over a specific time period, essential for technical analysis.
- Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: Query the API to get the lowest and highest price for silver over a specified date range.
- API Key: Your unique API key is required to access the Metals-API, ensuring secure and authorized usage.
- API Response: The API delivers exchange rates relative to USD, with all data returned in a structured JSON format.
- Supported Symbols Endpoint: Access a constantly updated list of all available metal symbols, including silver, gold, platinum, and palladium.
- News Endpoint: Retrieve the latest news articles related to silver and other metals, keeping you informed about market developments.
Accessing Real-Time Silver Prices
Step 1: Sign Up for Metals-API
Metals-API Website. After signing up, you will receive an API key that you will use to authenticate your requests.
Step 2: Make Your First API Call
GET https://metals-api.com/api/latest?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XAGYOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key. This request will return the latest silver prices in USD.
Example Response for Latest Rates Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1755302667,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-08-16",
"rates": {
"XAG": 0.03815
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
Step 3: Retrieve Historical Data
GET https://metals-api.com/api/historical?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&date=2025-08-15&symbols=XAGExample Response for Historical Rates Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1755216267,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-08-15",
"rates": {
"XAG": 0.03825
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
Step 4: Monitor Bid and Ask Prices
GET https://metals-api.com/api/bid-ask?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&symbols=XAGExample Response for Bid/Ask Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1755302667,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-08-16",
"rates": {
"XAG": {
"bid": 0.0381,
"ask": 0.0382,
"spread": 0.0001
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
Advanced Features and Use Cases
Time-Series Analysis
GET https://metals-api.com/api/timeseries?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&start_date=2025-08-09&end_date=2025-08-16&symbols=XAGExample Response for Time-Series Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2025-08-09",
"end_date": "2025-08-16",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2025-08-09": {
"XAG": 0.03825
},
"2025-08-11": {
"XAG": 0.0382
},
"2025-08-16": {
"XAG": 0.03815
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
Fluctuation Tracking
GET https://metals-api.com/api/fluctuation?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&start_date=2025-08-09&end_date=2025-08-16&symbols=XAGExample Response for Fluctuation Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2025-08-09",
"end_date": "2025-08-16",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"XAG": {
"start_rate": 0.03825,
"end_rate": 0.03815,
"change": -0.0001,
"change_pct": -0.26
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
OHLC Data for Technical Analysis
GET https://metals-api.com/api/open-high-low-close?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&date=2025-08-16&symbols=XAGExample Response for OHLC Endpoint
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1755302667,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-08-16",
"rates": {
"XAG": {
"open": 0.03825,
"high": 0.0383,
"low": 0.0381,
"close": 0.03815
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}
Security and Best Practices
- API Key Management: Keep your API key confidential and do not expose it in client-side code. Use server-side code to make API requests whenever possible.
- Rate Limiting: Be aware of your subscription plan's rate limits to avoid exceeding your quota. Implement caching strategies to minimize unnecessary API calls.
- Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to manage API response errors gracefully. This includes handling network issues and invalid requests.
- Data Validation: Always validate and sanitize data received from the API to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
Metals-API Documentation and explore the Metals-API Supported Symbols for a comprehensive list of available metals. Start integrating real-time silver data into your applications today!