Parsing Instagram API JSON data with JavaScript

Other Questions API
1

I’m working on a client-side JavaScript project and need help with Instagram’s API data. I want to fetch and parse JSON from Instagram but I’m running into issues.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

Method 1: XMLHttpRequest

function fetchData(url) {
    var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
    request.open("GET", url, false);
    request.send(null);
    return request.responseText;
}
var result = fetchData("https://www.instagram.com/someprofile/media/");
console.log(result);

Method 2: Script tag approach

var parsedJson = JSON.parse(document.getElementById('json-data').textContent);

<script id="json-data" type="application/json" src="https://www.instagram.com/someprofile/media/"></script>

Method 3: JSONP callback

var accessToken = 'sample_token_here',
    photoCount = 5,
    feedContainer = document.getElementById('photo_container'),
    scriptTag = document.createElement('script');

window.handleInstagramData = function(response) {
    for(var i in response.data) {
        feedContainer.innerHTML += '<div><img src="' + response.data[i].images.thumbnail.url + '"></div>';
    }
}

scriptTag.setAttribute('src', 'https://api.instagram.com/v1/users/self/media/recent?access_token=' + accessToken + '&count=' + photoCount + '&callback=handleInstagramData');
document.body.appendChild(scriptTag);

<div id="photo_container"></div>

None of these approaches seem to work properly. The main issue is that Instagram returns JSONP format instead of plain JSON, and I think you need proper API registration for user content access. How can I properly handle Instagram’s JSON response in vanilla JavaScript?

2

Your code samples show exactly why this is so frustrating - Instagram changed everything around 2020. Those endpoints don’t exist anymore and CORS blocks direct requests anyway. I went through this same headache building a portfolio site. You can’t do pure client-side Instagram integration anymore without a backend proxy. Instagram requires server-side token refresh and webhook validation now. I ended up creating a simple Node.js middleware that handles the Instagram API calls and serves clean JSON to my frontend. The frontend just fetches from my own endpoint instead of Instagram directly. Much cleaner and you avoid all the CORS and auth complexity. Another option is Instagram’s embed API if you just need to display posts - it’s more limited but works without tokens. Really depends on what data you actually need.

3

Had the same headache pulling Instagram data for a photo showcase. Instagram locked down their API hard - you need auth tokens that expire constantly. Your XMLHttpRequest won’t work because of CORS blocks, and the script tag trick is dead since they killed JSONP support. I ended up using Instagram’s oEmbed API for basic embeds, or you can spin up a serverless function on Vercel/Netlify as a proxy. The serverless route handles tokens on the backend so your frontend stays simple. If you’re stuck with client-side only, just use Instagram’s official embed widgets instead of fighting with raw JSON. Way more reliable and no tokens needed.

4

Instagram’s API changes broke everyone’s old code. The real problem? You’re handling this manually when you need proper automation.

I’ve dealt with this exact situation multiple times. Manual token refresh, webhook handling, CORS workarounds - it’s a nightmare to maintain. You end up with fragile code that breaks every few months.

The smart approach is automating the entire Instagram data pipeline. Set up workflows that handle token refresh automatically, parse JSON responses, and deliver clean data to your frontend. No more expired tokens or CORS headaches.

I built a system that pulls Instagram posts every hour, processes the JSON, and caches everything in a database. My frontend just hits one simple endpoint. When Instagram changes something, I update the automation workflow instead of rewriting frontend code.

You can build these workflows visually without coding backend logic from scratch. Handle OAuth flows, API calls, data transformation, and storage all in one automated pipeline.

Stop fighting Instagram’s API manually. Automate it properly and focus on building your actual features.

5

I’ve been fighting Instagram’s API for years - it’s turned into a complete mess. Those endpoints you’re using? They don’t exist anymore.

Here’s what everyone skips: Instagram’s Graph API has brutal rate limits that’ll kill your app in production. Found out the hard way when we got throttled during peak hours.

Use Instagram Basic Display API for personal projects. Forget the old v1 endpoints - they’re gone.

const token = 'YOUR_LONG_LIVED_TOKEN';
const fields = 'id,caption,media_type,media_url,permalink,timestamp';

fetch(`https://graph.instagram.com/me/media?fields=${fields}&access_token=${token}`)
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => {
    data.data.forEach(post => {
      // Your processing logic here
      console.log(post.media_url);
    });
  });

Token management is the worst part. Access tokens die every 60 days and refresh tokens need server-side handling. I built a simple Express middleware just to handle token refresh.

Client-only? You’re stuck with Instagram’s embed widgets or oEmbed API. Less flexible but no auth nightmares.

Always add error handling. Instagram’s API randomly breaks during high traffic. Our client’s feed died on Black Friday - learned that lesson fast.

6

Instagram’s API is a nightmare these days. I tried building something like this last year and ditched the official route entirely. If you’re just displaying photos, unofficial scrapers work way better than Meta’s OAuth caos. Just hit the public JSON endpoints that are still around - beats dealing with token headaches any day.

7

You’re hitting a bunch of common Instagram API issues. Those old endpoints are deprecated and dead.

Instagram killed their legacy API years ago. Now you need either Instagram Basic Display API (personal use) or Instagram Graph API (business accounts). Both require OAuth - no shortcuts.

For client-side JavaScript:

  1. Register your app with Meta/Facebook developers
  2. Get access tokens through OAuth flow
  3. Use Graph API endpoints

Basic fetch example with a valid token:

const accessToken = 'your_actual_token_here';
const userId = 'your_user_id';

fetch(`https://graph.instagram.com/${userId}/media?fields=id,media_type,media_url,thumbnail_url&access_token=${accessToken}`)
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => {
    data.data.forEach(post => {
      // Process your posts here
      console.log(post);
    });
  })
  .catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));

Just dealt with this last month for a client. The authentication flow’s the tricky part, especially when users need to connect their own accounts.