CSS API overview
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You can use the CSS API to manage your CSS and control your CSS Products
portfolio.
The CSS API is a redesign of the CSS features in Content API for
Shopping.
CSS API versus Merchant API
Understanding the distinction between the CSS API and the Merchant API is key
to effectively managing your products. Each API serves a different purpose and
operates on different account types and ID spaces:
CSS API (v1): Use this API for all functionalities related to managing
CSS accounts and their associated CSS products. This API uses the
css.googleapis.com hostname and requires a CSS Domain ID for product
operations.
- Example:
POST https://css.googleapis.com/v1/accounts/{cssDomainId}/cssProductInputs:insert
Merchant API
(v1): Use this API for all functionalities related to
standard Merchant Center accounts and their products. This API uses the
merchantapi.googleapis.com hostname and requires a standard Merchant
Center ID.
- Example:
POST https://merchantapi.googleapis.com/v1/accounts/{merchantId}/productInputs:insert
Key takeaway: Don't use a CSS Domain ID with the Merchant API for product
endpoints, and don't use a Merchant Center ID with the CSS API product
endpoints. Using the wrong ID with the wrong API will result in errors.
The CSS API and Merchant API together replace the older Content API for Shopping
(v2.1), which should no longer be used.
Here are some reasons to upgrade to the CSS API:
See Get started for more
information.
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-08-13 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-08-13 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe CSS API enables managing CSS and controlling your CSS Products portfolio.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe CSS API offers new features, improved alignment with Google's API improvement proposals, and updated documentation and samples.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUpgrading from the Content API for Shopping to the CSS API is recommended.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# CSS API overview\n\nYou can use the CSS API to manage your CSS and control your CSS Products\nportfolio.\n\nThe CSS API is a redesign of the CSS features in [Content API for\nShopping](/shopping-content).\n\nCSS API versus Merchant API\n---------------------------\n\nUnderstanding the distinction between the CSS API and the Merchant API is key\nto effectively managing your products. Each API serves a different purpose and\noperates on different account types and ID spaces:\n\n- **CSS API (v1):** Use this API for all functionalities related to managing\n CSS accounts and their associated CSS products. This API uses the\n `css.googleapis.com` hostname and requires a **CSS Domain ID** for product\n operations.\n\n - Example: `POST https://css.googleapis.com/v1/accounts/{cssDomainId}/cssProductInputs:insert`\n- **[Merchant API](https://developers.google.com/merchant/api/overview)\n (v1):** Use this API for all functionalities related to\n standard Merchant Center accounts and their products. This API uses the\n `merchantapi.googleapis.com` hostname and requires a standard **Merchant\n Center ID**.\n\n - Example: `POST https://merchantapi.googleapis.com/v1/accounts/{merchantId}/productInputs:insert`\n\n**Key takeaway:** Don't use a CSS Domain ID with the Merchant API for product\nendpoints, and don't use a Merchant Center ID with the CSS API product\nendpoints. Using the wrong ID with the wrong API will result in errors.\n\nThe CSS API and Merchant API together replace the older Content API for Shopping\n(v2.1), which should no longer be used.\n\nHere are some reasons to upgrade to the CSS API:\n\n- New features.\n- Improved alignment with Google's [API improvement proposals](//google.aip.dev/).\n- Updated documentation and [samples](/comparison-shopping-services/api/code-samples).\n\nSee [Get started](/comparison-shopping-services/api/guides/quickstart) for more\ninformation."]]
