## Table of Contents

- [Defining rules](#defining-rules)
- [Start with a single field](#start-with-a-single-field)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example)
- [Extract a collection](#extract-a-collection)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example-1)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example-1)
- [Return structured objects](#return-structured-objects)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example-2)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example-2)
- [Use fallback rules](#use-fallback-rules)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example-3)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example-3)
- [Pick the right output form](#pick-the-right-output-form)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example-4)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example-4)
- [Use evaluate for custom values](#use-evaluate-for-custom-values)
  - [CLI Microlink API example](#cli-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [cURL Microlink API example](#curl-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [JavaScript Microlink API example](#javascript-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [Python Microlink API example](#python-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [Ruby Microlink API example](#ruby-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [PHP Microlink API example](#php-microlink-api-example-5)
  - [Golang Microlink API example](#golang-microlink-api-example-5)
- [Rule references](#rule-references)

---

[](https://microlink.io/docs/api/getting-started/overview)

[API](https://microlink.io/docs/api/getting-started/overview)

[](https://microlink.io/docs/guides)

GUIDES

[](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/getting-started/overview)

MQL

[](https://microlink.io/docs/sdk/getting-started/overview)

SDK

[](https://microlink.io/docs/cards/getting-started/overview)

CARDS

## Defining rules

Good extraction starts with good rule design. The goal is not to scrape everything blindly, but to declare the smallest set of fields your application actually needs.

## Start with a single field

The simplest rule targets one element and extracts one value:

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://example.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://example.com&data.title.selector=h1&data.title.attr=text
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://example.com" \
  -d "data.title.selector=h1" \
  -d "data.title.attr=text" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {
  data: {
    title: {
      selector: "h1",
      attr: "text"
    }
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "data.title.selector": "h1",
    "data.title.attr": "text",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://example.com",
  data.title.selector: "h1",
  data.title.attr: "text",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://example.com",
    "data.title.selector" => "h1",
    "data.title.attr" => "text",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://example.com")
    q.Set("data.title.selector", "h1")
    q.Set("data.title.attr", "text")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {

  data: {

    title: {

      selector: "h1",

      attr: "text"

    }

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Use `selector` for one element and `attr` for the value you want from it.

This is the best first step when you are learning a new page structure. Once the first field works, add the rest one by one.

## Extract a collection

If the page contains repeated elements, switch to `selectorAll`:

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://news.ycombinator.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://news.ycombinator.com&data.titles.selectorAll='.titleline > a'&data.titles.attr=text
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://news.ycombinator.com" \
  -d "data.titles.selectorAll=.titleline%20%3E%20a" \
  -d "data.titles.attr=text" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://news.ycombinator.com', {
  data: {
    titles: {
      selectorAll: ".titleline > a",
      attr: "text"
    }
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com",
    "data.titles.selectorAll": ".titleline > a",
    "data.titles.attr": "text",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://news.ycombinator.com",
  data.titles.selectorAll: ".titleline > a",
  data.titles.attr: "text",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://news.ycombinator.com",
    "data.titles.selectorAll" => ".titleline > a",
    "data.titles.attr" => "text",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://news.ycombinator.com")
    q.Set("data.titles.selectorAll", ".titleline > a")
    q.Set("data.titles.attr", "text")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://news.ycombinator.com', {

  data: {

    titles: {

      selectorAll: ".titleline > a",

      attr: "text"

    }

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Use `selectorAll` when you need an array instead of only the first match.

This pattern is ideal for headlines, product cards, search results, table rows, and navigation links.

## Return structured objects

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://news.ycombinator.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://news.ycombinator.com&data.stories.selectorAll=.athing&data.stories.attr.title.selector='.titleline > a'&data.stories.attr.title.attr=text&data.stories.attr.href.selector='.titleline > a'&data.stories.attr.href.attr=href&data.stories.attr.href.type=url
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://news.ycombinator.com" \
  -d "data.stories.selectorAll=.athing" \
  -d "data.stories.attr.title.selector=.titleline%20%3E%20a" \
  -d "data.stories.attr.title.attr=text" \
  -d "data.stories.attr.href.selector=.titleline%20%3E%20a" \
  -d "data.stories.attr.href.attr=href" \
  -d "data.stories.attr.href.type=url" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://news.ycombinator.com', {
  data: {
    stories: {
      selectorAll: ".athing",
      attr: {
        title: {
          selector: ".titleline > a",
          attr: "text"
        },
        href: {
          selector: ".titleline > a",
          attr: "href",
          type: "url"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com",
    "data.stories.selectorAll": ".athing",
    "data.stories.attr.title.selector": ".titleline > a",
    "data.stories.attr.title.attr": "text",
    "data.stories.attr.href.selector": ".titleline > a",
    "data.stories.attr.href.attr": "href",
    "data.stories.attr.href.type": "url",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://news.ycombinator.com",
  data.stories.selectorAll: ".athing",
  data.stories.attr.title.selector: ".titleline > a",
  data.stories.attr.title.attr: "text",
  data.stories.attr.href.selector: ".titleline > a",
  data.stories.attr.href.attr: "href",
  data.stories.attr.href.type: "url",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://news.ycombinator.com",
    "data.stories.selectorAll" => ".athing",
    "data.stories.attr.title.selector" => ".titleline > a",
    "data.stories.attr.title.attr" => "text",
    "data.stories.attr.href.selector" => ".titleline > a",
    "data.stories.attr.href.attr" => "href",
    "data.stories.attr.href.type" => "url",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://news.ycombinator.com")
    q.Set("data.stories.selectorAll", ".athing")
    q.Set("data.stories.attr.title.selector", ".titleline > a")
    q.Set("data.stories.attr.title.attr", "text")
    q.Set("data.stories.attr.href.selector", ".titleline > a")
    q.Set("data.stories.attr.href.attr", "href")
    q.Set("data.stories.attr.href.type", "url")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://news.ycombinator.com', {

  data: {

    stories: {

      selectorAll: ".athing",

      attr: {

        title: {

          selector: ".titleline > a",

          attr: "text"

        },

        href: {

          selector: ".titleline > a",

          attr: "href",

          type: "url"

        }

      }

    }

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Nested rules let each matched item become a structured object instead of a single string.

Use this when a card, row, or result item contains multiple related fields that should stay together.

## Use fallback rules

When the page structure is not consistent, provide more than one rule in priority order:

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://example.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://example.com&data.title='[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]'
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://example.com" \
  -d "data.title=%5Bobject%20Object%5D%2C%5Bobject%20Object%5D%2C%5Bobject%20Object%5D" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {
  data: {
    title: [
      {
        selector: 'meta[property="og:title"]',
        attr: "content"
      },
      {
        selector: "title",
        attr: "text"
      },
      {
        selector: "h1",
        attr: "text"
      }
    ]
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "data.title": "[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://example.com",
  data.title: "[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://example.com",
    "data.title" => "[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://example.com")
    q.Set("data.title", "[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {

  data: {

    title: [

      {

        selector: 'meta[property="og:title"]',

        attr: "content"

      },

      {

        selector: "title",

        attr: "text"

      },

      {

        selector: "h1",

        attr: "text"

      }

    ]

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Microlink tries each rule in order and keeps the first one that returns a valid value.

Fallbacks are especially useful across publisher templates, ecommerce catalogs, or documentation sites where the markup changes from page to page.

## Pick the right output form

`attr` and `type` solve different problems:

| Property | Use it for                                                                                |
| -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `attr`   | Choosing the source value such as `text`, `html`, `markdown`, `href`, `src`, or `content` |
| `type`   | Validating or normalizing the result as `url`, `number`, `date`, `image`, and more        |

For example, a link field usually needs both:

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://example.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://example.com&data.link.selector=a&data.link.attr=href&data.link.type=url
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://example.com" \
  -d "data.link.selector=a" \
  -d "data.link.attr=href" \
  -d "data.link.type=url" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {
  data: {
    link: {
      selector: "a",
      attr: "href",
      type: "url"
    }
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "data.link.selector": "a",
    "data.link.attr": "href",
    "data.link.type": "url",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://example.com",
  data.link.selector: "a",
  data.link.attr: "href",
  data.link.type: "url",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://example.com",
    "data.link.selector" => "a",
    "data.link.attr" => "href",
    "data.link.type" => "url",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://example.com")
    q.Set("data.link.selector", "a")
    q.Set("data.link.attr", "href")
    q.Set("data.link.type", "url")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {

  data: {

    link: {

      selector: "a",

      attr: "href",

      type: "url"

    }

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Think of `attr` as “where to read from” and `type` as “what shape this value should have”.

If you specifically want HTML-to-Markdown serialization, see the [Markdown guide](https://microlink.io/docs/guides/markdown).

## Use evaluate for custom values

If selectors are still not enough, `evaluate` can compute a field directly in the browser context:

The following examples show how to use the Microlink API with CLI, cURL, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP & Golang, targeting 'https://example.com' URL with 'data' & 'meta' API parameters:

### CLI Microlink API example

``` bash
microlink https://example.com&data.summary.evaluate='`${document.querySelector('"'"'h1'"'"')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('"'"'p'"'"')?.textContent.trim()}`'&data.summary.type=string
```

### cURL Microlink API example

``` bash
curl -G "https://api.microlink.io" \
  -d "url=https://example.com" \
  -d "data.summary.evaluate=%60%24%7Bdocument.querySelector('h1')%3F.textContent.trim()%7D%20%E2%80%94%20%24%7Bdocument.querySelector('p')%3F.textContent.trim()%7D%60" \
  -d "data.summary.type=string" \
  -d "meta=false"
```

### JavaScript Microlink API example

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {
  data: {
    summary: {
      evaluate: "`${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}`",
      type: "string"
    }
  },
  meta: false
})
```

### Python Microlink API example

``` python
import requests

url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

querystring = {
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "data.summary.evaluate": '''`${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}`''',
    "data.summary.type": "string",
    "meta": "false"
}

response = requests.get(url, params=querystring)

print(response.json())
```

### Ruby Microlink API example

``` ruby
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'

base_url = "https://api.microlink.io/"

params = {
  url: "https://example.com",
  data.summary.evaluate: "`${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}`",
  data.summary.type: "string",
  meta: "false"
}

uri = URI(base_url)
uri.query = URI.encode_www_form(params)

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)

puts response.body
```

### PHP Microlink API example

``` php
<?php

$baseUrl = "https://api.microlink.io/";

$params = [
    "url" => "https://example.com",
    "data.summary.evaluate" => "`${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}`",
    "data.summary.type" => "string",
    "meta" => "false"
];

$query = http_build_query($params);
$url = $baseUrl . '?' . $query;

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $url,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_ENCODING => "",
    CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS => 10,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
    CURLOPT_HTTP_VERSION => CURL_HTTP_VERSION_1_1,
    CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "GET"
]);

$response = curl_exec($curl);
$err = curl_error($curl);

curl_close($curl);

if ($err) {
    echo "cURL Error #: " . $err;
} else {
    echo $response;
}
```

### Golang Microlink API example

``` bash
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "net/url"
    "io"
)

func main() {
    baseURL := "https://api.microlink.io"

    u, err := url.Parse(baseURL)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    data.summary.evaluateParam := ``${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}``

    q := u.Query()
    q.Set("url", "https://example.com")
    q.Set("data.summary.evaluate", data.summary.evaluateParam)
    q.Set("data.summary.type", "string")
    q.Set("meta", "false")
    u.RawQuery = q.Encode()

    req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", u.String(), nil)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
```

``` javascript
import mql from '@microlink/mql'

const { data } = await mql('https://example.com', {

  data: {

    summary: {

      evaluate: "`${document.querySelector('h1')?.textContent.trim()} — ${document.querySelector('p')?.textContent.trim()}`",

      type: "string"

    }

  },

  meta: false

})
```

Use `evaluate` for values that are awkward to express with selectors alone, but keep it as a last resort.

Start with plain selectors and fallbacks. Add `evaluate` only when the page needs custom logic.

## Rule references

For the full rule surface, see the MQL reference pages for [selector](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/data/selector), [selectorAll](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/data/selectorAll), [attr](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/data/attr), [type](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/data/type), [evaluate](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/data/evaluate), [nested rules](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/rules/nested), and [fallback rules](https://microlink.io/docs/mql/rules/fallbacks).

Learn how to render the right page state before extraction in [page preparation](https://microlink.io/docs/guides/data-extraction/page-preparation).