API:Raw query continue


 * This page describes the original way the query continuation worked. This approach is not recommended, as it requires the client to know which module returned which continue parameter, and process some before processing the others.
 * Please consider using the new approach described on API Query page.

Very often, you will not get all the data you want in one request. To continue the request, you can use the provided  value.

You can now use  to get the next ten categories.

The  node will contain a subnode for each module used in the query that needs continuation, and these subnodes will contain properties to be used when making the followup "continuation" query. Note that clients should not be depending on the particular property names given for continuation of any module or the format of the values returned for continuation, as these may change.

When using a generator, you might get multiple  values, one for the generator and one or more for the 'regular'   modules used. In this case you need to continue the 'regular' modules first (with the old values of the generator's continuation properties) until they run out, and only then continue the generator. The generator's continuation properties may be identified because they belong to the query module being used as a generator and will begin with a 'g'.

Continuation example
Consider an initial query [//www.mediawiki.org/w/api.php?action=query&titles=API:Main_page&generator=categories&prop=categories|links&gcllimit=2&cllimit=1], which as a contrived example uses the  module as both the generator and as a prop module. This will return a  something like this: Note that continuation is returned for both the  module and the   module as both the generator and as a prop module. You would add  (for links) and   (for categories as a prop module) to your query, while ignoring for now   because it belongs to the generator module and begins with a 'g'.

The followup query [//www.mediawiki.org/w/api.php?action=query&titles=API:Main_page&generator=categories&prop=categories|links&gcllimit=2&cllimit=1&clcontinue=6418|MediaWiki_for_site_admins&plcontinue=6418|14|Manual/cs] would then return something like this: Continuing with continuation, you might eventually get a response like this: At this point you may remove  from the   list since there is no longer any continuation property being returned for it, or you may leave it in there while continuing to use the last value received for. Do not retain  in   while removing , as then you will start receiving all the   results all over again.

Eventually a query will return only the generator continuation: Now, finally, you go back to your original query and add  to get the next set of results from the generator, and repeat the process of continuation as necessary until no   is returned at all.