Instagram API Node.js Tutorial — Extract Reels & Profiles with JavaScript (2026)

Option A — Using axios (Recommended)

Install axios and call the GET /instagram endpoint to extract any public Instagram Reel:

// npm install axios
const axios = require('axios');

const API_KEY = 'your_api_key';
const BASE_URL = 'https://api.teraboxdl.site/v1/instagram';

async function getInstagramReel(url) {
  const response = await axios.post(
    `${BASE_URL}/reel`,
    { url },
    { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY }, timeout: 30000 },
  );
  return response.data;
}

// Usage
const result = await getInstagramReel('https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeSX7IaAIUu/');
console.log('MP4 URL:', result.data.video_url);
console.log('Thumbnail:', result.data.thumbnail);
console.log('Caption:', result.data.caption);
console.log('Credits left:', result.credits_remaining);

Option B — Native fetch (Node 18+)

No dependencies needed if you're on Node.js 18 or later:

// Node 18+ native fetch (no npm install needed)
const API_KEY = 'your_api_key';
const BASE_URL = 'https://api.teraboxdl.site/v1/instagram';

async function getInstagramReel(url) {
  const res = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/reel`, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({ url }),
    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000),
  });
  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}: ${await res.text()}`);
  return res.json();
}

async function getInstagramProfile(username) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams({ username });
  const res = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/profile?${params}`, {
    headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY },
    signal: AbortSignal.timeout(30000),
  });
  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}: ${await res.text()}`);
  const { data } = await res.json();
  return data.user; // data.user.stats.followers_count, data.user.biography, data.user.profile_pic_url
}

Express Backend Integration

Build a full Express endpoint that accepts Instagram URLs and returns structured download data for your frontend or Telegram bot:

const express = require('express');
const axios = require('axios');

const app = express();
const API_KEY = process.env.INSTAGRAM_API_KEY;

// POST /download  { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/..." }
app.post('/download', express.json(), async (req, res) => {
  const { url } = req.body;
  if (!url) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'url is required' });

  try {
    const { data } = await axios.post(
      'https://api.teraboxdl.site/v1/instagram/reel',
      { url },
      { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY }, timeout: 30000 },
    );
    res.json({
      videoUrl: data.data.video_url,
      thumbnail: data.data.thumbnail,
      caption: data.data.caption,
      creditsLeft: data.credits_remaining,
    });
  } catch (err) {
    const status = err.response?.status;
    if (status === 402) return res.status(402).json({ error: 'Out of API credits' });
    if (status === 404) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Post not found, deleted or private' });
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Extraction failed' });
  }
});

app.listen(3001, () => console.log('Server running on :3001'));

API Response Structure

A successful response returns the following JSON structure:

{
  "status": "success",
  "cached": false,
  "credits_remaining": 24987,
  "data": {
    "media_type": "video",
    "video_url": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/...",
    "thumbnail": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/...",
    "caption": "Post caption text",
    "username": "natgeo",
    "like_count": 12400,
    "media_list": [{ "type": "video", "url": "...", "thumbnail": "..." }]
  }
}

HTTP Status Codes

Related Instagram API Guides