Samples for Merchant API

These code samples are organized by platform or language. Each language directory contains a README with more information about how to run the samples for that particular language. Here, we cover setting up authentication and the common configuration file used by all the samples.

For more information on the API, please refer to the documentation for the Merchant API.

The Merchant API is a redesign of the Content API for Shopping.

Prerequisites

Before getting started with new integration, you need to complete following steps:

1. Enable Merchant API in your Google Cloud project
2. Create Merchant Center account

Choose your Authentication method

Setting up authentication for the Merchant API is similar to the Content API. Merchant API supports 3 types of authentication flows based on your specific use case:

1. Service account to access your own account
2. OAuth 2.0 to access your merchants' accounts
3. Google Application Default Credentials

Setting up Authentication and Sample Configuration

1. Create the directory $(HOME)/shopping-samples/content to store the configuration.

   If you are unsure where this will be located in your particular setup, run the samples (following the language-specific README). Errors from the samples related to either this directory or necessary files not existing will provide the full path to the expected directory/files.

2. Set up your desired authentication method (when multiple methods are set up, the service account will be prioritized):

   1. To use Google Application Default Credentials

      1. follow the directions on the Google Application Default Credentials page.

   2. To use a service account:

      1. Create a service account
      2. Create and download a service account key in JSON format.
      3. Rename the JSON file you downloaded to service-account.json and move it to the configuration subdirectory $(HOME)/shopping-samples/content.
      4. Add the service account as a user of your Merchant Center account using the "People and access" page

   3. to use an OAuth2 client ID:

      1. Register your application and generate OAuth 2.0 Client ID.
      2. Download your OAuth2 client credentials to the file client-secrets.json in the configuration subdirectory $(HOME)/shopping-samples/content.

Important

The samples assume that you are using an OAuth2 client ID that can use a loopback IP address to retrieve tokens. For web app clients types, you must add "http://127.0.0.1:8080" to the "Authorized redirect URIs" list in your Google Cloud Console project before running samples. Please visit the OAuth2 for Web Apps page and follow the instructions there to create a new OAuth2 client ID to use with the samples.

Note

If using OAuth2 client credentials, once you have authorized access, your token details will be stored in the token.json file in the samples configuration directory. If you have any issues authenticating, remove this file and you will be asked to re-authorize access.

3. Take the example merchant-info.json from this repository root and copy it into $(HOME)/shopping-samples/content. Next, change its contents appropriately. It contains a JSON object with the following field:

   Field	Type	Description
   merchantId	number	The Merchant Center ID to run samples against.

Try Out the Samples

Now that you've configured both the common sample configuration file and set up your authentication credentials, it's time to build and run any of the included samples. As mentioned before, there are language-specific instructions in the READMEs located in each language subdirectory.

Important

Before you can run any other Merchant API calls, you need to perform Developer registration API call once. You can do this by calling REST API directly or using your chosen client library and provided code sample. See Register as a developer.

Code Assist Toolkit using MCP

Get assistance with migrating from Content API for Shopping to Merchant API or developing new integrations from the Model Context Protocol (MCP) service. It provides authoritative context from official Merchant API documentation and code samples. You can easily integrate MCP into coding assistant of your choice. For more information, see MAPI Integration and Code Assist Toolkit using MCP.

We also provide MCP instructions you can use to instruct your coding assistant on how to migrate and use MCP.

For an easier and more efficient development experience, consider using Agent Skills (described below). It allows AI agents to tap into specialized Merchant API knowledge on-demand without overloading their context window, leading to more capable and focused assistance.

Agent Skills for AI-Assisted Development

Accelerate your Merchant API development with the mapi-developer-assistant Agent Skill. Use it with AI-powered CLI tools like Gemini CLI or Claude Code to get interactive expert guidance directly in your development environment. These tools load the mapi-developer-assistant skill, which then interacts with the MCP server to provide real-time, accurate information and code samples.

For installation instructions and usage examples, see the Agent Skills README. For more information, see Merchant API Agent Skills.

The skill provides:

• Expert guidance on Merchant API concepts, features, and best practices
• Sample codes for common integration patterns
• Troubleshooting support for API errors and implementation issues
• Direct access to the MCP server