Get by IDs (comma separated)

Retrieves multiple GIFs from Giphy using a comma-separated list of unique IDs. This node is ideal for batch operations when you need to fetch several specific GIFs in a single API call.

Common Properties

• Name - The custom name of the node.
• Color - The custom color of the node.
• Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
• Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
• Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.

info

If the ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed, even if a Catch node is used.

Inputs

• IDs - Comma-separated list of Giphy GIF IDs. This is a required field and cannot be empty. Example: "FiGiRei2ICzzG,3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS,xT9IgDEI1iZyb2wqo8"

Options

• Rating - Content rating filter to restrict results. Options:
  • g - Suitable for all audiences (default)
  • pg - Parental guidance suggested
  • pg-13 - Parents strongly cautioned
  • r - Restricted to adults
• API Key - Your Giphy API key credential for authentication. Required for all requests.

Output

• resp - API response object containing:
  • data - Array of GIF objects corresponding to the requested IDs
  • pagination - Object with count information
  • meta - API status information

How It Works

The Get by IDs node retrieves multiple GIFs in a single request:

1. Validates that the IDs parameter is not empty
2. Retrieves authentication credentials from the credential manager
3. Constructs API request with comma-separated IDs
4. Sends GET request to Giphy's bulk retrieval endpoint
5. Parses JSON response containing all matching GIFs
6. Returns GIFs in the same order as requested (when all IDs are valid)

Example Usage

Retrieve Multiple GIFs

// Fetch 3 specific GIFs
msg.IDs = "FiGiRei2ICzzG,3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS,xT9IgDEI1iZyb2wqo8";
// After node execution:
let gifUrls = msg.resp.data.map(gif => gif.images.original.url);
console.log(`Retrieved ${msg.resp.data.length} GIFs`);

Load User's Favorites

// Retrieve all saved favorite GIFs
let favoriteIds = database.getUserFavorites(userId); // Returns array
msg.IDs = favoriteIds.join(',');
// After execution:
msg.favoriteGifs = msg.resp.data;

Build a Carousel

// Create a GIF carousel from stored IDs
let carouselIds = ["id1", "id2", "id3", "id4", "id5"];
msg.IDs = carouselIds.join(',');
// After execution, build carousel with:
msg.resp.data.forEach(gif => {
    addToCarousel(gif.images.fixed_height.url, gif.title);
});

Verify Multiple GIFs

// Check if multiple GIF IDs are still valid
msg.IDs = "FiGiRei2ICzzG,InvalidID123,3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS";
// After execution:
let requestedCount = msg.IDs.split(',').length;
let retrievedCount = msg.resp.data.length;
msg.missingCount = requestedCount - retrievedCount;

Create GIF Collection

// Build a themed collection
let holidayGifIds = getHolidayGifIds(); // From database
msg.IDs = holidayGifIds.join(',');
// After execution, create collection page:
msg.collection = msg.resp.data.map(gif => ({
    id: gif.id,
    title: gif.title,
    url: gif.images.downsized.url,
    thumbnail: gif.images.fixed_height_small.url
}));

Common Use Cases

1. Batch Retrieval - Fetch multiple GIFs efficiently in one API call instead of multiple individual calls
2. User Collections - Load all GIFs in a user's favorites, playlist, or collection
3. Content Galleries - Build galleries or carousels from curated GIF IDs
4. Recommendation Systems - Retrieve a set of recommended GIFs based on stored preferences
5. Comparison Tools - Display multiple GIFs side-by-side for user selection
6. Bulk Validation - Verify that multiple stored GIF IDs are still accessible
7. Report Generation - Include multiple specific GIFs in automated reports or newsletters

Tips

• Use Comma Separation - Ensure IDs are separated by commas without spaces: "id1,id2,id3"
• Limit Batch Size - While Giphy supports many IDs, keep batches reasonable (10-50) for performance
• Handle Missing GIFs - Some IDs may be invalid or deleted; always check the returned count
• Preserve Order - GIFs are typically returned in the order requested (when all are valid)
• Build from Arrays - Use JavaScript's join(',') to convert ID arrays to comma-separated strings
• Validate Input - Check that your ID string is properly formatted before calling the node
• Compare Counts - Always compare requested vs returned count to detect missing GIFs

Error Handling

The node will return errors in the following cases:

• ErrInvalidArg - IDs parameter is empty or missing
• ErrCredentials - API key is missing, invalid, or credential retrieval failed
• ErrRuntime - Network error, API timeout, or invalid API response

Common Errors and Solutions

Error	Cause	Solution
IDs cannot be empty	No IDs provided	Ensure msg.IDs is set with comma-separated values
Failed to get API key	Credential not configured	Add Giphy API key to credential manager
Failed to call Giphy API	Network/connectivity issue	Check internet connection and retry
Failed to decode API response	Invalid API response	Verify IDs are correctly formatted
Fewer GIFs returned than requested	Some IDs invalid/deleted	Check which IDs are missing and update database
403 Forbidden	Invalid API key	Verify API key is correct and active

Response Structure

{
  "data": [
    {
      "type": "gif",
      "id": "FiGiRei2ICzzG",
      "url": "https://giphy.com/gifs/FiGiRei2ICzzG",
      "images": {
        "original": {
          "url": "https://media.giphy.com/media/.../giphy.gif",
          "width": "500",
          "height": "281"
        },
        "downsized": { ... }
      },
      "title": "First GIF",
      "rating": "g"
    },
    {
      "type": "gif",
      "id": "3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS",
      "url": "https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7btPCcdNniyf0ArS",
      "images": { ... },
      "title": "Second GIF",
      "rating": "g"
    }
  ],
  "pagination": {
    "count": 2,
    "offset": 0
  },
  "meta": {
    "status": 200,
    "msg": "OK",
    "response_id": "..."
  }
}

Best Practices

1. Always validate the IDs string format before making the API call
2. Compare requested count vs returned count to detect missing/deleted GIFs
3. Use this node instead of multiple Get by ID calls for better performance
4. Keep batch sizes reasonable (10-50 IDs) for optimal response times
5. Implement error handling for partially successful retrievals
6. Store the order of requested IDs if order matters for your use case
7. Consider chunking very large ID lists into multiple smaller requests
8. Cache results if the same batch of GIFs is retrieved frequently

Performance Considerations

Single Request vs Multiple Requests

Get by IDs (Batch)

• 1 API call for 10 GIFs
• Faster overall execution
• Lower API rate limit usage
• Recommended for 2+ GIFs

Get by ID (Individual)

• 10 API calls for 10 GIFs
• Slower overall execution
• Higher API rate limit usage
• Use only when retrieving 1 GIF

Batch Size Recommendations

• Small batch (2-10 IDs): Optimal performance, fast response
• Medium batch (11-25 IDs): Good balance of efficiency and speed
• Large batch (26-50 IDs): Efficient but slower response time
• Very large batch (50+ IDs): Consider splitting into multiple requests

Handling Missing GIFs

// Track which GIFs are missing
let requestedIds = msg.IDs.split(',');
let retrievedIds = msg.resp.data.map(gif => gif.id);
let missingIds = requestedIds.filter(id => !retrievedIds.includes(id));

if (missingIds.length > 0) {
    console.log(`Missing GIF IDs: ${missingIds.join(', ')}`);
    // Update database to remove invalid IDs
    database.removeGifIds(missingIds);
}

Building ID Lists from Arrays

// From array of objects with id property
let gifObjects = [{id: "id1"}, {id: "id2"}, {id: "id3"}];
msg.IDs = gifObjects.map(obj => obj.id).join(',');

// From simple array
let idArray = ["id1", "id2", "id3"];
msg.IDs = idArray.join(',');

// From database result
let dbResults = database.query("SELECT gif_id FROM favorites");
msg.IDs = dbResults.map(row => row.gif_id).join(',');