# POST /v1/backlinks/anchors

Anchor-text distribution of backlinks to a target.

**Credits:** 50 credits per call.

**Timeout:** 60s

## Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `target` | string | yes | — | Domain or URL to analyze backlinks for. Required. |
| `limit` | integer | no | 100 | Page size. Optional, default 100. 1-1000. |
| `offset` | integer | no | 0 | Pagination offset. Optional, default 0. 0-10000. |

## Request

```http
POST /v1/backlinks/anchors HTTP/1.1
Authorization: Bearer sof_live_your_key_here
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "target": "example.com",
  "limit": 100,
  "offset": 0
}
```

## Response

Wrapped in the standard envelope (id, object, created_at, elapsed_ms, cache, credits) -- documented once on The Contract. The body below is a real envelope with this endpoint's `data` shape; values vary per request, and a `…` marks an array cut short for display.

```json
{
  "id": "back_uebnr7zzoalvgjpxsne6h63m",
  "request_id": "req_3ftqrtyf2nentlclg3ydknqtdm",
  "object": "backlink_anchors",
  "created_at": "2026-08-09T08:33:19Z",
  "elapsed_ms": 180,
  "cache": "miss",
  "credits": {
    "charged": 50,
    "balance": 9857
  },
  "data": {
    "target": "example.com",
    "total_count": 3316,
    "limit": 100,
    "offset": 0,
    "items": [
      {
        "anchor": "running shoes",
        "backlinks": 597726,
        "referring_domains": 247,
        "first_seen": "2023-05-14"
      },
      {
        "anchor": null,
        "backlinks": 1201,
        "referring_domains": 88,
        "first_seen": "2024-01-09"
      },
      "…"
    ]
  }
}
```

## Response fields

What each field in `data` (above) means.

| Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `data.target` | The domain or URL you requested. |
| `data.total_count` | Total number of rows matching the target, independent of limit/offset. |
| `data.limit` | Page size actually used (echoes the request). |
| `data.offset` | Pagination offset actually used (echoes the request). |
| `data.items` | One row per distinct anchor text, up to limit. |
| `data.items[].anchor` | Anchor text, or null for backlinks with no anchor text (e.g. image links). |
| `data.items[].backlinks` | Number of backlinks using this anchor text. |
| `data.items[].referring_domains` | Number of distinct domains using this anchor text. |
| `data.items[].first_seen` | Date this anchor text was first observed. |