gtrendsAPI: An R wrapper for the Google Trends API

Abstract

Search engine data is a prime source of insights on the human information-seeking behaviour and such information is instrumental for the scientific study of human culture and behaviour. The gtrendsAPI R software package aims to facilitate programmatic access to data available from the Google Trends API. Here, I introduce the functions available through this software and provide worked examples of how to use it. I also discuss some the potential research applications and caveats of this software and the data available through it.