TheMealDB Search.php API

openapi: 3.0.0
info:
  title: TheMealDB Categories.php Search.php API
  description: An open, crowd-sourced database of meals and recipes from around the world
  version: 1.0.0
  contact:
    url: https://www.themealdb.com
servers:
- url: https://www.themealdb.com/api/json/v1/{apiKey}
  variables:
    apiKey:
      default: '1'
      description: API key - use '1' for testing/development. Premium supporters use their personal key.
tags:
- name: Search.php
paths:
  /search.php:
    get:
      summary: Search meals
      description: Search for meals by name or list meals by first letter.
      operationId: searchMeals
      parameters:
      - name: s
        in: query
        description: Search meal by name (e.g. s=Arrabiata)
        schema:
          type: string
      - name: f
        in: query
        description: List meals by first letter (single character, e.g. f=a)
        schema:
          type: string
          maxLength: 1
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Successful response with array of meals or null if none found
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
                properties:
                  meals:
                    type: array
                    nullable: true
                    items:
                      $ref: '#/components/schemas/Meal'
              example:
                meals:
                - idMeal: '52771'
                  strMeal: Spicy Arrabiata Penne
                  strCategory: Vegetarian
                  strArea: Italian
                  strInstructions: Bring a large pot of water to a boil...
                  strMealThumb: https://www.themealdb.com/images/media/meals/ustsqw1468250014.jpg
                  strTags: Pasta,Curry
                  strYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IszT_guI08
                  strIngredient1: penne rigate
                  strMeasure1: 1 pound
      tags:
      - Search.php
components:
  schemas:
    Meal:
      type: object
      description: Full meal record with recipe details, ingredients, and measurements.
      properties:
        idMeal:
          type: string
          description: Unique numeric identifier for the meal
          example: '52771'
        strMeal:
          type: string
          description: Meal name
          example: Spicy Arrabiata Penne
        strDrinkAlternate:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          description: Suggested drink pairing
        strCategory:
          type: string
          description: Meal category (e.g. Vegetarian, Beef, Dessert)
          example: Vegetarian
        strArea:
          type: string
          description: Cuisine area / country of origin
          example: Italian
        strInstructions:
          type: string
          description: Step-by-step cooking instructions
        strMealThumb:
          type: string
          format: uri
          description: URL to the meal thumbnail image. Append /small, /medium, or /large for sized variants.
          example: https://www.themealdb.com/images/media/meals/ustsqw1468250014.jpg
        strTags:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          description: Comma-separated tags
          example: Pasta,Curry
        strYoutube:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          format: uri
          description: YouTube video URL for recipe walkthrough
        strIngredient1:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient2:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient3:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient4:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient5:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient6:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient7:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient8:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient9:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient10:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient11:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient12:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient13:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient14:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient15:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient16:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient17:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient18:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient19:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strIngredient20:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure1:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure2:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure3:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure4:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure5:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure6:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure7:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure8:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure9:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure10:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure11:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure12:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure13:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure14:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure15:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure16:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure17:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure18:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure19:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strMeasure20:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        strSource:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          format: uri
          description: Original recipe source URL
        strImageSource:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          description: Image attribution source
        strCreativeCommonsConfirmed:
          type: string
          nullable: true
          description: Indicates if the image is confirmed Creative Commons licensed
        dateModified:
          type: string
          format: date-time
          nullable: true
          description: Date the meal record was last modified