ZendServiceTwitter

Introduction

ZendService\Twitter provides a client for the Twitter RESTAPI. ZendService\Twitter allows you to query the public timeline. If you provide a username and OAuth details for Twitter, it will allow you to get and update your status, reply to friends, direct message friends, mark tweets as favorite, and much more.

ZendService\Twitter implements a REST service, and all methods return an instance of Zend\Rest\Client\Result.

ZendService\Twitter is broken up into subsections so you can easily identify which type of call is being requested.

  • account makes sure that your account credentials are valid, checks your API rate limit, and ends the current session for the authenticated user.
  • status retrieves the public and user timelines and shows, updates, destroys, and retrieves replies for the authenticated user.
  • user retrieves friends and followers for the authenticated user and returns extended information about a passed user.
  • directMessage retrieves the authenticated user’s received direct messages, deletes direct messages, and sends new direct messages.
  • friendship creates and removes friendships for the authenticated user.
  • favorite lists, creates, and removes favorite tweets.
  • block blocks and unblocks users from following you.

Authentication

With the exception of fetching the public timeline, ZendService\Twitter requires authentication as a valid user. This is achieved using the OAuth authentication protocol. OAuth is the only supported authentication mode for Twitter as of August 2010. The OAuth implementation used by ZendService\Twitter is ZendOAuth.

Creating the Twitter Class

ZendService\Twitter must authorize itself, on behalf of a user, before use with the Twitter API (except for public timeline). This must be accomplished using OAuth since Twitter has disabled it’s basic HTTP authentication as of August 2010.

There are two options to establishing authorization. The first is to implement the workflow of ZendOAuth via ZendService\Twitter which proxies to an internal ZendOAuth\Consumer object. Please refer to the ZendOAuth documentation for a full example of this workflow - you can call all documented ZendOAuth\Consumer methods on ZendService\Twitter including constructor options. You may also use ZendOAuth directly and only pass the resulting access token into ZendService\Twitter. This is the normal workflow once you have established a reusable access token for a particular Twitter user. The resulting OAuth access token should be stored to a database for future use (otherwise you will need to authorize for every new instance of ZendService\Twitter). Bear in mind that authorization via OAuth results in your user being redirected to Twitter to give their consent to the requested authorization (this is not repeated for stored access tokens). This will require additional work (i.e. redirecting users and hosting a callback URL) over the previous HTTP authentication mechanism where a user just needed to allow applications to store their username and password.

The following example demonstrates setting up ZendService\Twitter which is given an already established OAuth access token. Please refer to the ZendOAuth documentation to understand the workflow involved. The access token is a serializable object, so you may store the serialized object to a database, and unserialize it at retrieval time before passing the objects into ZendService\Twitter. The ZendOAuth documentation demonstrates the workflow and objects involved.

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
/**
 * We assume $serializedToken is the serialized token retrieved from a database
 * or even $_SESSION (if following the simple ZendOAuth documented example)
 */
$token = unserialize($serializedToken);

$twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
    'username' => 'johndoe',
    'accessToken' => $token
));

// verify user's credentials with Twitter
$response = $twitter->account->verifyCredentials();

Note

In order to authenticate with Twitter, ALL applications MUST be registered with Twitter in order to receive a Consumer Key and Consumer Secret to be used when authenticating with OAuth. This can not be reused across multiple applications - you must register each new application separately. Twitter access tokens have no expiry date, so storing them to a database is advised (they can, of course, be refreshed simply be repeating the OAuth authorization process). This can only be done while interacting with the user associated with that access token.

The previous pre-OAuth version of ZendService\Twitter allowed passing in a username as the first parameter rather than within an array. This is no longer supported.

Account Methods

  • verifyCredentials() tests if supplied user credentials are valid with minimal overhead.

    Verifying credentials

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->account->verifyCredentials();
    
  • endSession() signs users out of client-facing applications.

    Sessions ending

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->account->endSession();
    
  • rateLimitStatus() returns the remaining number of API requests available to the authenticating user before the API limit is reached for the current hour.

    Rating limit status

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->account->rateLimitStatus();
    

Status Methods

  • publicTimeline() returns the 20 most recent statuses from non-protected users with a custom user icon. The public timeline is cached by Twitter for 60 seconds.

    Retrieving public timeline

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->publicTimeline();
    
  • friendsTimeline() returns the 20 most recent statuses posted by the authenticating user and that user’s friends.

    Retrieving friends timeline

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->friendsTimeline();
    

    The friendsTimeline() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • userTimeline() returns the 20 most recent statuses posted from the authenticating user.

    Retrieving user timeline

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->userTimeline();
    

    The userTimeline() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • id specifies the ID or screen name of the user for whom to return the friends_timeline.
    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
    • count specifies the number of statuses to retrieve. May not be greater than 200.
  • show() returns a single status, specified by the id parameter below. The status’ author will be returned inline.

    Showing user status

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->show(1234);
    
  • update() updates the authenticating user’s status. This method requires that you pass in the status update that you want to post to Twitter.

    Updating user status

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->update('My Great Tweet');
    

    The update() method accepts a second additional parameter.

    • in_reply_to_status_id specifies the ID of an existing status that the status to be posted is in reply to.
  • replies() returns the 20 most recent @replies (status updates prefixed with @username) for the authenticating user.

    Showing user replies

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->replies();
    

    The replies() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
    • since_id returns only statuses with an ID greater than (that is, more recent than) the specified ID.
  • destroy() destroys the status specified by the required id parameter.

    Deleting user status

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->status->destroy(12345);
    

User Methods

  • friends()r eturns up to 100 of the authenticating user’s friends who have most recently updated, each with current status inline.

    Retrieving user friends

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->user->friends();
    

    The friends() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • id specifies the ID or screen name of the user for whom to return a list of friends.
    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • followers() returns the authenticating user’s followers, each with current status inline.

    Retrieving user followers

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->user->followers();
    

    The followers() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • id specifies the ID or screen name of the user for whom to return a list of followers.
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • show() returns extended information of a given user, specified by ID or screen name as per the required id parameter below.

    Showing user informations

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->user->show('myfriend');
    

Direct Message Methods

  • messages() returns a list of the 20 most recent direct messages sent to the authenticating user.

    Retrieving recent direct messages received

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->directMessage->messages();
    

    The message() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • since_id returns only direct messages with an ID greater than (that is, more recent than) the specified ID.
    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • sent() returns a list of the 20 most recent direct messages sent by the authenticating user.

    Retrieving recent direct messages sent

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->directMessage->sent();
    

    The sent() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • since_id returns only direct messages with an ID greater than (that is, more recent than) the specified ID.
    • since narrows the returned results to just those statuses created after the specified date/time (up to 24 hours old).
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • new() sends a new direct message to the specified user from the authenticating user. Requires both the user and text parameters below.

    Sending direct message

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->directMessage->new('myfriend', 'mymessage');
    
  • destroy() destroys the direct message specified in the required id parameter. The authenticating user must be the recipient of the specified direct message.

    Deleting direct message

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->directMessage->destroy(123548);
    

Friendship Methods

  • create() befriends the user specified in the id parameter with the authenticating user.

    Creating friend

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->friendship->create('mynewfriend');
    
  • destroy() discontinues friendship with the user specified in the id parameter and the authenticating user.

    Deleting friend

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->friendship->destroy('myoldfriend');
    
  • exists() tests if a friendship exists between the user specified in the id parameter and the authenticating user.

    Checking friend existence

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->friendship->exists('myfriend');
    

Favorite Methods

  • favorites() returns the 20 most recent favorite statuses for the authenticating user or user specified by the id parameter.

    Retrieving favorites

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->favorite->favorites();
    

    The favorites() method accepts an array of optional parameters to modify the query.

    • id specifies the ID or screen name of the user for whom to request a list of favorite statuses.
    • page specifies which page you want to return.
  • create() favorites the status specified in the id parameter as the authenticating user.

    Creating favorites

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->favorite->create(12351);
    
  • destroy() un-favorites the status specified in the id parameter as the authenticating user.

    Deleting favorites

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->favorite->destroy(12351);
    

Block Methods

  • exists() checks if the authenticating user is blocking a target user and can optionally return the blocked user’s object if a block does exists.

    Checking if block exists

     1
     2
     3
     4
     5
     6
     7
     8
     9
    10
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    
    // returns true or false
    $response = $twitter->block->exists('blockeduser');
    
    // returns the blocked user's info if the user is blocked
    $response2 = $twitter->block->exists('blockeduser', true);
    

    The favorites() method accepts a second optional parameter.

    • returnResult specifies whether or not return the user object instead of just TRUE or FALSE.
  • create() blocks the user specified in the id parameter as the authenticating user and destroys a friendship to the blocked user if one exists. Returns the blocked user in the requested format when successful.

    Blocking a user

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->block->create('usertoblock);
    
  • destroy() un-blocks the user specified in the id parameter for the authenticating user. Returns the un-blocked user in the requested format when successful.

    Removing a block

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    $response   = $twitter->block->destroy('blockeduser');
    
  • blocking() returns an array of user objects that the authenticating user is blocking.

    Who are you blocking

     1
     2
     3
     4
     5
     6
     7
     8
     9
    10
    $twitter = new ZendService\Twitter\Twitter(array(
        'username' => 'johndoe',
        'accessToken' => $token
    ));
    
    // return the full user list from the first page
    $response = $twitter->block->blocking();
    
    // return an array of numeric user IDs from the second page
    $response2 = $twitter->block->blocking(2, true);
    

    The favorites() method accepts two optional parameters.

    • page specifies which page ou want to return. A single page contains 20 IDs.
    • returnUserIds specifies whether to return an array of numeric user IDs the authenticating user is blocking instead of an array of user objects.

ZendServiceTwitterSearch

Introduction

ZendService\Twitter\Search provides a client for the Twitter Search API. The Twitter Search service is use to search Twitter. Currently, it only returns data in Atom or JSON format, but a full REST service is in the future, which will support XML responses.

Searching Twitter

Using the search method returns tweets that match a specific query. There are a number of Search Operators that you can use to query with.

The search method can accept six different optional URL parameters passed in as an array:

  • lang restricts the tweets to a given language. lang must be given by an ISO 639-1 code.
  • rpp is the number of tweets to return per page, up to a maximum of 100.
  • page specifies the page number to return, up to a maximum of roughly 1500 results (based on rpp * page).
  • since_id returns tweets with status IDs greater than the given ID.
  • show_user specifies whether to add “>user<:” to the beginning of the tweet. This is useful for readers that do not display Atom’s author field. The default is “FALSE”.
  • geocode returns tweets by users located within a given radius of the given latitude/longitude, where the user’s location is taken from their Twitter profile. The parameter value is specified by “latitude,longitude,radius”, where radius units must be specified as either “mi” (miles) or “km” (kilometers).

JSON Search Example

The following code sample will return an array with the search results.

1
2
$twitterSearch  = new ZendService\Twitter\Search('json');
$searchResults  = $twitterSearch->search('zend', array('lang' => 'en'));

ATOM Search Example

The following code sample will return a Zend\Feed\Atom object.

1
2
$twitterSearch  = new ZendService\Twitter\Search('atom');
$searchResults  = $twitterSearch->search('zend', array('lang' => 'en'));

Zend-specific Accessor Methods

While the Twitter Search API only specifies two methods, ZendService\Twitter\Search has additional methods that may be used for retrieving and modifying internal properties.

  • getResponseType() and setResponseType() allow you to retrieve and modify the response type of the search between JSON and Atom.
Edit this document

Edit this document

The source code of this file is hosted on GitHub. Everyone can update and fix errors in this document with few clicks - no downloads needed.

  1. Login with your GitHub account.
  2. Go to ZendServiceTwitter on GitHub.
  3. Edit file contents using GitHub's text editor in your web browser
  4. Fill in the Commit message text box at the end of the page telling why you did the changes. Press Propose file change button next to it when done.
  5. On Send a pull request page you don't need to fill in text anymore. Just press Send pull request button.
  6. Your changes are now queued for review under project's Pull requests tab on GitHub.