How to retrieve Afghan Afghani (AFN) prices using this API
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving world of finance and commodities, the ability to retrieve real-time data is crucial for developers and businesses alike. One such valuable resource is the Metals-API, which provides comprehensive access to metal prices, including the Afghan Afghani (AFN) prices. This blog post will delve into the capabilities of the Metals-API, focusing on its features, endpoints, and the transformative potential it offers to developers looking to integrate real-time metals data into their applications.
Understanding Nickel (NI) and Its Markets
Nickel (NI) is a vital metal in various industries, particularly in the manufacturing of stainless steel and batteries. As the world shifts towards digital transformation, the metal markets are experiencing significant changes driven by technological innovation and advancement. The integration of smart technologies and data analytics is reshaping how traders and businesses interact with metal prices.
With the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, the demand for nickel is expected to surge. This creates a need for accurate and timely data, which the Metals-API can provide. By leveraging this API, developers can build applications that offer insights into market trends, price fluctuations, and historical data, empowering businesses to make informed decisions.
Technological Innovation in Metal Markets
The Metals-API stands at the forefront of technological innovation in the metal markets. By providing real-time data, it allows developers to create applications that can analyze market trends and predict future movements. The API's capabilities extend beyond simple price retrieval; it offers a suite of features that enable comprehensive market analysis.
For instance, the Metals-API Documentation provides detailed information on how to utilize various endpoints, such as the Latest Rates Endpoint, which returns real-time exchange rate data updated frequently based on subscription plans. This feature is essential for applications that require up-to-the-minute pricing information.
Data Analytics and Insights
Data analytics plays a crucial role in understanding market dynamics. The Metals-API offers endpoints that allow developers to access historical rates dating back to 2019, enabling them to analyze trends over time. By appending specific dates to the Historical Rates Endpoint, developers can retrieve valuable insights into how prices have changed, which can inform future trading strategies.
Moreover, the API's Time-Series Endpoint allows for querying daily historical rates between two dates, providing a comprehensive view of price movements. This feature is particularly useful for developers looking to build applications that require detailed historical analysis.
Smart Technology Integration
Integrating smart technology with the Metals-API can enhance user experience and provide deeper insights into market behavior. For example, the API's Fluctuation Endpoint enables developers to track how currencies fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. This information can be used to create alerts or notifications for users when significant price changes occur, allowing them to react promptly to market conditions.
Additionally, the Bid and Ask Endpoint provides real-time bid and ask prices, which are crucial for traders looking to make informed decisions. By incorporating this data into applications, developers can offer users a competitive edge in the market.
API Description
The Metals-API is a powerful tool that provides access to real-time and historical metal prices, along with currency conversion capabilities. It empowers developers to build next-generation applications that can analyze and visualize metal market data effectively. The API supports a wide range of metal symbols, including Gold (XAU), Silver (XAG), Platinum (XPT), and Palladium (XPD), among others. For a complete list of supported symbols, refer to the Metals-API Supported Symbols.
One of the key features of the Metals-API is its ability to deliver exchange rates relative to USD by default. This allows developers to easily integrate the API into their applications without worrying about currency conversion complexities. The API's response structure is designed to be straightforward, enabling quick integration and implementation.
Key Features and Endpoints
The Metals-API offers a variety of endpoints, each designed to fulfill specific needs of developers and businesses. Here are some of the most notable features:
Latest Rates Endpoint
The Latest Rates Endpoint provides real-time exchange rates for all available metals. Depending on the subscription plan, this endpoint can return data updated every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This feature is essential for applications that require up-to-the-minute pricing information.
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771459935,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-19",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912,
"XPD": 0.000744,
"XCU": 0.294118,
"XAL": 0.434783,
"XNI": 0.142857,
"XZN": 0.344828
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Historical Rates Endpoint
Accessing historical exchange rates is crucial for analyzing market trends. The Historical Rates Endpoint allows developers to retrieve rates for any date since 1999. By appending a specific date to the endpoint, users can gain insights into how prices have evolved over time.
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771373535,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-18",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915,
"XPD": 0.000748
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Bid and Ask Endpoint
The Bid and Ask Endpoint is a powerful feature that enables developers to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for metals. This information is vital for traders who need to make quick decisions based on current market conditions.
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771459935,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-19",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"bid": 0.000481,
"ask": 0.000483,
"spread": 2.0e-6
},
"XAG": {
"bid": 0.0381,
"ask": 0.0382,
"spread": 0.0001
},
"XPT": {
"bid": 0.000911,
"ask": 0.000913,
"spread": 2.0e-6
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Convert Endpoint
The Convert Endpoint allows users to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This feature is particularly useful for applications that require currency conversion capabilities.
{
"success": true,
"query": {
"from": "USD",
"to": "XAU",
"amount": 1000
},
"info": {
"timestamp": 1771459935,
"rate": 0.000482
},
"result": 0.482,
"unit": "troy ounces"
}Time-Series Endpoint
The Time-Series Endpoint allows developers to query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of their choice. This feature is essential for applications that require detailed historical analysis and trend forecasting.
{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2026-02-12",
"end_date": "2026-02-19",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2026-02-12": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915
},
"2026-02-14": {
"XAU": 0.000483,
"XAG": 0.0382,
"XPT": 0.000913
},
"2026-02-19": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Fluctuation Endpoint
The Fluctuation Endpoint provides information about how currencies fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. This feature is useful for tracking market volatility and understanding price movements over time.
{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2026-02-12",
"end_date": "2026-02-19",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"start_rate": 0.000485,
"end_rate": 0.000482,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.62
},
"XAG": {
"start_rate": 0.03825,
"end_rate": 0.03815,
"change": -0.0001,
"change_pct": -0.26
},
"XPT": {
"start_rate": 0.000915,
"end_rate": 0.000912,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.33
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint
The OHLC Price Endpoint allows developers to query the API for the open, high, low, and close prices for a specific time period. This data is essential for traders who need to analyze price movements and make informed decisions.
{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1771459935,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-02-19",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"open": 0.000485,
"high": 0.000487,
"low": 0.000481,
"close": 0.000482
},
"XAG": {
"open": 0.03825,
"high": 0.0383,
"low": 0.0381,
"close": 0.03815
},
"XPT": {
"open": 0.000915,
"high": 0.000918,
"low": 0.00091,
"close": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}Historical LME Endpoint
The Historical LME Endpoint provides access to historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008. This endpoint is particularly useful for developers looking to analyze long-term trends in metal prices.
API Key and Response
To access the Metals-API, developers must use a unique API Key, which is passed into the API base URL's access_key parameter. This key ensures secure access to the API's features and data. The API responses are structured to provide clear and concise information, making it easy for developers to integrate the data into their applications.
Conclusion
The Metals-API is a powerful tool for developers looking to integrate real-time metal prices and historical data into their applications. With its comprehensive features, including the Latest Rates Endpoint, Historical Rates Endpoint, and various conversion capabilities, the API empowers businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate data.
As the demand for metals continues to grow, particularly in industries such as electric vehicles and renewable energy, the ability to access real-time data will become increasingly important. By leveraging the capabilities of the Metals-API, developers can create innovative applications that provide valuable insights into market trends and price fluctuations.
For more information on how to get started with the Metals-API, visit the Metals-API Website and explore the Metals-API Documentation for detailed guidance on utilizing its features effectively.