# Get messages

{generate_api_description(/messages:get)}

## Usage examples

{start_tabs}
{tab|python}

{generate_code_example(python)|/messages:get|example}

{tab|js}

More examples and documentation can be found [here](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-js).
```js
const zulip = require('zulip-js');

// Pass the path to your zuliprc file here.
const config = {
    zuliprc: 'zuliprc',
};

zulip(config).then((client) => {
    const readParams = {
        stream,
        type: 'stream',
        anchor: res.id,
        num_before: 1,
        num_after: 1,
    };

    // Fetch messages anchored around id (1 before, 1 after)
    return client.messages.retrieve(readParams);
}).then(console.log);
```

{tab|curl}

{generate_code_example(curl, exclude=["client_gravatar", "apply_markdown", "use_first_unread_anchor"])|/messages:get|example}

{end_tabs}

## Arguments

{generate_api_arguments_table|zulip.yaml|/messages:get}

## Response

#### Return values

When a request is successful, this endpoint returns a dictionary
containing the following (in addition to the `msg` and `result` keys
present in all Zulip API responses).

* `anchor`: the same `anchor` specified in the request.
* `found_newest`: whether the `messages` list includes the latest message in
    the narrow.
* `found_oldest`: whether the `messages` list includes the oldest message in
    the narrow.
* `found_anchor`: whether it was possible to fetch the requested anchor, or
    the closest in the narrow has been used.
* `messages`: an array of `message` objects, each containing the following
    fields:
    * `avatar_url`: The URL of the user's avatar.
    * `client`: A Zulip "client" string, describing what Zulip client
      sent the message.
    * `content`: The content/body of the message.
    * `content_type`: The HTTP `content_type` for the message content.  This
      will be `text/html` or `text/x-markdown`, depending on
      whether `apply_markdown` was set.
    * `display_recipient`: Data on the recipient of the message;
      either the name of a stream or a dictionary containing data on
      the users who received the message.
    * `flags`: The user's [message flags][message-flags] for the message.
    * `id`: The unique message ID.  Messages should always be
      displayed sorted by ID.
    * `is_me_message`: Whether the message is a [/me status message][status-messages]
    * `reactions`: Data on any reactions to the message.
        * `emoji_code`: An encoded version of the emoji's unicode codepoint.
        * `emoji_name`: Name of the emoji.
        * `reaction_type`: If the reaction uses a [custom emoji](/help/add-custom-emoji),
          `reaction_type` will be set to `realm_emoji`.
        * `user_id`: The ID of the user who added the reaction.
           **Changes**: New in Zulip 2.2 (feature level 2). The `user`
           object is deprecated and will be removed in the future.
        * `user`: Dictionary with data on the user who added the reaction, including
           the user ID as the `id` field.  **Note**: In the [events
           API](/api/get-events-from-queue), this `user` dictionary
           confusing had the user ID in a field called `user_id`
           instead.  We recommend ignoring fields other than the user
           ID.  **Deprecated** and to be removed in a future release
           once core clients have migrated to use the `user_id` field.
    * `recipient_id`: A unique ID for the set of users receiving the
      message (either a stream or group of users).  Useful primarily
      for hashing.
    * `sender_email`: The email address of the message's sender.
    * `sender_full_name`: The full name of the message's sender.
    * `sender_id`: The user ID of the message's sender.
    * `sender_realm_str`: A string identifier for the realm the sender
      is in.
    * `sender_short_name`: Reserved for future use.
    * `stream_id`: Only present for stream messages; the ID of the stream.
    * `subject`: The `topic` of the message (only present for stream
      messages).  The name is a legacy holdover from when topics were
      called "subjects".
    * `topic_links`: Data on any links to be included in the `topic`
      line (these are generated by [custom linkification
      filters][linkification-filters] that match content in the
      message's topic.)  **Changes**: New in Zulip 2.2 (feature level
      1).  Previously, this field was called `subject_links`; clients
      are recommended to rename `subject_links` to `topic_links` if
      present for compatibility with older Zulip servers.
    * `submessages`: Data used for certain experimental Zulip integrations.
    * `timestamp`: The UNIX timestamp for when the message was sent,
      in UTC seconds.
    * `type`: The type of the message: `stream` or `private`.

#### Example response

A typical successful JSON response may look like:

{generate_code_example|/messages:get|fixture(200)}

[status-messages]: /help/format-your-message-using-markdown#status-messages
[linkification-filters]: /help/add-a-custom-linkification-filter
[message-flags]: /api/update-message-flags#available-flags