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Trending

Retrieves the current trending GIFs from Giphy. This node returns the most popular and viral GIFs of the moment, perfect for staying current with internet culture and creating timely, engaging content.

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​

This node has no input parameters. It automatically fetches the current trending GIFs from Giphy.

Options​

  • Limit - The maximum number of trending GIFs to return. Default: 25. Recommended range: 10-50.
  • Offset - Results offset for pagination. Default: 0. Use this to retrieve additional trending GIFs beyond the initial set.
  • 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
  • Bundle - Rendering optimization type. Options:
    • Efficient Clip Grid - Optimized for grid display of video clips
    • Quick GIFs - Fast-loading GIFs for messaging (default)
    • Efficient Sticker Layering - Optimized for sticker overlays
    • Low Data Usage GIFs - Smaller file sizes for bandwidth-constrained environments
  • API Key - Your Giphy API key credential for authentication. Required for all requests.

Output​

  • resp - API response object containing:
    • data - Array of trending GIF objects with URLs, metadata, and engagement metrics
    • pagination - Object with total_count, count, and offset
    • meta - API status information

How It Works​

The Trending node fetches currently viral GIFs from Giphy:

  1. Retrieves authentication credentials from the credential manager
  2. Constructs API request with parameters (limit, offset, rating, bundle)
  3. Sends GET request to Giphy's trending endpoint
  4. Parses JSON response containing the most popular GIFs
  5. Stores the response in the output variable
  6. Trending data updates frequently (typically hourly) to reflect current viral content

Example Usage​

// Configure node to get top 10 trending GIFs
msg.Limit = 10;
// After node execution:
// msg.resp.data contains array of 10 trending GIFs
let topGif = msg.resp.data[0].images.original.url;
// Get first page of trending GIFs
msg.Limit = 20;
msg.Offset = 0;
// Run node...

// Get second page
msg.Offset = 20;
// Run node again...
// Get only G-rated trending GIFs
msg.Rating = "g";
msg.Limit = 15;
// Perfect for school or family-oriented applications

Monitor Trending Content​

// Scheduled automation to check trending GIFs
// Run every hour to capture trending content
let trendingTitles = msg.resp.data.map(gif => gif.title);
msg.currentTrends = trendingTitles;

Common Use Cases​

  1. Social Media Monitoring - Track trending GIFs to understand current internet culture and memes
  2. Content Recommendations - Suggest popular GIFs to users in messaging or social platforms
  3. Automated Posts - Schedule social media posts featuring trending GIFs for maximum engagement
  4. Trend Analysis - Collect trending GIF data over time to analyze patterns and predict viral content
  5. Newsletter Content - Include current trending GIFs in email newsletters for timely, relevant content
  6. Chatbot Personality - Keep chatbot responses fresh and current with trending GIF reactions

Tips​

  • Refresh Frequently - Trending content changes quickly; run this node periodically (every 1-2 hours) for fresh content
  • Save Trend History - Store trending GIF IDs with timestamps to analyze trends over time
  • Filter by Rating - Always use appropriate rating filters for your audience and use case
  • Check Ranking - GIFs at offset 0 are the most viral; prioritize these for maximum impact
  • Combine with Search - Use trending GIFs to discover popular keywords, then search for more similar content
  • Monitor Peak Times - Different trends emerge at different times of day and days of the week
  • Cross-Reference - Compare trending GIFs with trending search terms for deeper insights

Error Handling​

The node will return errors in the following cases:

  • ErrCredentials - API key is missing, invalid, or credential retrieval failed
  • ErrRuntime - Network error, API timeout, or invalid API response
  • Rate Limit Exceeded - Too many requests sent to Giphy API

Common Errors and Solutions​

ErrorCauseSolution
Failed to get API keyCredential not configuredAdd Giphy API key to credential manager
Failed to call Giphy APINetwork/connectivity issueCheck internet connection and retry
Failed to decode API responseInvalid API responseCheck Giphy service status
403 ForbiddenInvalid API keyVerify API key is correct and active
429 Too Many RequestsRate limit exceededImplement rate limiting or upgrade API plan

Response Structure​

{
  "data": [
    {
      "type": "gif",
      "id": "xT9IgDEI1iZyb2wqo8",
      "url": "https://giphy.com/gifs/...",
      "images": {
        "original": {
          "url": "https://media.giphy.com/media/.../giphy.gif",
          "width": "480",
          "height": "270"
        },
        "downsized": { ... },
        "fixed_height": { ... }
      },
      "title": "Trending GIF Title",
      "rating": "g",
      "trending_datetime": "2024-01-15 12:00:00",
      "user": { ... }
    }
  ],
  "pagination": {
    "total_count": 1000,
    "count": 25,
    "offset": 0
  },
  "meta": {
    "status": 200,
    "msg": "OK"
  }
}

Best Practices​

  1. Cache trending results for 30-60 minutes to reduce API calls
  2. Always check msg.resp.data.length before accessing array elements
  3. Use the trending_datetime field to track when content became viral
  4. Implement error handling for empty results (rare but possible during low-traffic periods)
  5. Store both GIF ID and URL for future reference
  6. Consider using lower limit values (10-15) for faster response times
  7. Monitor API usage when running scheduled trending checks
  8. Use preview images for thumbnails before loading full GIFs
FeatureTrendingSearch
InputNone requiredQuery term required
ResultsCurrent viral GIFsGIFs matching query
UpdatesHourlyReal-time
Use CaseDiscover popular contentFind specific content
ConsistencyChanges frequentlyStable for same query

Data Freshness​

Giphy's trending algorithm updates continuously, but results are typically cached for:

  • Very short intervals (minutes) during high-traffic periods
  • Longer intervals (1-2 hours) during normal traffic
  • Consider implementing your own caching layer with timestamps for efficiency