How do I track the number of awards my Reddit posts receive?

Direct answer: You can track awards by checking the post’s award count in the UI and, for precise totals or breakdowns, by querying Reddit’s data (via JSON or the API) to read the total_awards_received and the all_awardings array.

How Reddit shows award counts (quick reference)

• Each post displays a total awards count next to the award icon.
• Click the awards button to view a breakdown by award type for that post (if the interface supports it).
• Some posts in certain views may hide the breakdown; the total is still shown.

Manual counting: step-by-step

1. Open the post you want to track.
2. Look for the number next to or near the awards icon. This is the total awards received.
3. To see a breakdown, click or hover over the awards area (if available) and note each award type and count.
4. Record the total and, if needed, the per-type breakdown in a notebook or spreadsheet for later comparison.
5. Repeat this process for all posts you want to monitor to compare totals over time.

API-based counting: step-by-step

1. Obtain access if needed. For public data, you can use unauthenticated requests to basic endpoints, or authenticate for higher limits.
2. Fetch the post’s JSON by appending .json to the post URL (e.g., https://reddit.com/r/subreddit/comments/post_id/post_title/.json).
3. Navigate to the post object in the JSON. Look for:

   • total_awards_received: the cumulative number of awards the post has earned.
   • all_awardings: an array with each award type and its count.

4. Record total_awards_received as the post’s total awards. For per-type totals, sum or inspect each item’s count field within all_awardings.
5. Optionally script extraction:

   • Parse the JSON to extract post data fields.
   • Aggregate values for dashboards or reports.

Practical examples

• Example A: You open a post and see “12 awards.” You log 12 as the total for that post.
• Example B: You fetch JSON and see total_awards_received = 9, with all_awardings containing multiple awards like Gold, Platinum, etc., with their counts. You log 9, and note the per-type counts for detail.
• Example C: A post has been removed or is in a private subreddit. The UI may not show current counts; rely on the last known JSON snapshot if available.

Tools and approaches

• Browser-based: Use the post’s JSON endpoint to programmatically retrieve counts without third-party tools.
• Spreadsheet: Copy totals and per-type counts into a sheet for trend tracking.
• Small scripts: Write a lightweight script (Python, JavaScript) to fetch post JSONs and extract total_awards_received and per-type counts.
• Automation caution: Respect Reddit API terms and rate limits; avoid excessive polling.

Pitfalls and tips

• Not all posts disclose a detailed breakdown in every UI; rely on JSON for complete data.
• Award counts can change after you fetch them; log values at a specific time for accuracy.
• Removed posts may lose visibility of the award breakdown; store data promptly when needed.
• In private or restricted communities, API access may require authentication.
• When counting, remember some awards are granted by bots or moderators; treat as any other award type.

Quick checklist

• Identify the target post.
• Check total awards in the UI for a quick total.
• Fetch the post's JSON for exact counts and breakdowns.
• Record total_awards_received and per-type counts if needed.
• Validate data with a second post to ensure consistency.

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