Read Data from Channel

Use the REST and MQTT APIs to read channels using software or devices

ThingSpeak™ is an IoT platform that uses channels to store data sent from apps or devices. You can read data from your ThingSpeak channels using the HTTP calls and the REST API. You can use the MQTT subscribe method to receive messages whenever the channel is updated. And you can use thingSpeakRead to read data from your channel in desktop MATLAB. Learn more about when to Choose Between REST API and MQTT API to update a channel.

REST API

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Read Data

`Read Data`	Read data from all fields in channel with HTTP GET
`Read Field`	Read data from single field of channel with HTTP GET
`Read Status`	Read status field of channel with HTTP GET
`Read Last Entry`	Read last entry in channel with HTTP GET
`Read Last Field Entry`	Read last entry in channel field with HTTP GET
`Read Last Status`	Read last status of channel with HTTP GET

Read Entry Age

`Read Last Entry Age`	Read number of seconds since last entry in channel with HTTP GET
`Read Last Field Entry Age`	Read number of seconds since last entry in field with HTTP GET

MQTT API

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Subscribe to Channel Updates with MQTT API

`Subscribe to a Channel Feed`	Subscribe to updates from channel feed with MQTT
`Subscribe to a Channel Field Feed`	Subscribe to channel updates from specific field of channel with MQTT

Functions

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Read Data with MATLAB

thingSpeakRead Read data stored in ThingSpeak channel

Topics

Choose How to Read Data

Choose Between REST API and MQTT API
Learn when to use REST and MQTT to update a channel.
Publish and Subscribe to a Channel Using Desktop MQTT Client
This example shows how to use a desktop MQTT client to publish and subcribe to a channel.

Read Data with Arduino or Particle Photon

Prototyping with Sonar Proximity Sensor
This example shows how to prototype with ThingSpeak™ using a Wi-Fi connected Arduino® board.

Read Data with ESP8266

Post Temperature Data and Read from Channel
This example shows how to collect environmental data from a device and post it from your device to a ThingSpeak™ channel.
Moisture Sensor using HTTP POST Requests to Channel
This example shows how to post multiple fields of data to a ThingSpeak™ channel from a device that wakes from deep sleep.
Bulk-Update Using an Arduino or an ESP8266
This example shows how to use either an Arduino® MKR1000 board or an ESP8266 board connected to a Wi-Fi® network to continuously collect Wi-Fi signal strength and bulk-update a ThingSpeak™ channel.

Read Data with ESP32

Wireless Network Signal Strength with ESP32 with Arduino IDE
This example shows how to use the wireless network functionality of ESP32 to post data to ThingSpeak™.

Related Information

Troubleshooting

Error Codes

See the details of ThingSpeak REST API error messages and corresponding HTTP status codes.

Troubleshoot MQTT Subscribe

Common mistakes and problem resolution for subscribing to ThingSpeak.

Featured Examples

Use Particle Photon Client to Subscribe to Channel Updates

Use a Particle Photon board to subscribe to channel updates from the CheerLights channel. The program reads a color from the channel and displays it using on the built-in LED on the Photon board. You can subscribe to the channel feed or directly to the color field on the CheerLights channel as shown in this example.

Open Live Script

Post Temperature Data and Read from Channel

Collect environmental data from a device and post it from your device to a ThingSpeak™ channel. The example uses an ESP8266 and the ThingSpeak Communication Library to post data and retrieve data from a channel.

Open Live Script

Moisture Sensor using HTTP POST Requests to Channel

Post multiple fields of data to a ThingSpeak™ channel from a device that wakes from deep sleep. You read a soil moisture sensor and post the value to a ThingSpeak channel. The HTTP POST request is executed by writing to a communication client without a separate library. Directly writing the HTTP request to the wireless network client can offer increased flexibility and speed over the ThingSpeak Communication Library.

Open Live Script

Wireless Network Signal Strength with ESP32 with Arduino IDE

Use the wireless network functionality of ESP32 to post data to ThingSpeak™. The ESP32 records and posts the signal strength of the wireless network that it is connected to. Press a button on the board to take three measurements of the wireless network signal strength and post the average result to a ThingSpeak channel. The device also posts a counter value so you can track measurements.

Open Live Script