Fetches the text at a URL: an API response, an XML feed, a page. Pair with FILTERXML to pull values out of XML.

Syntax

=WEBSERVICE(url)

• Call an API

  =WEBSERVICE("https://api.example.com/rates?base=USD") → {"base":"USD","rates":{"EUR":0.92,…}}

  The raw response as text.

• Parse a feed

  =FILTERXML(WEBSERVICE("https://example.com/feed.xml"),"//item/title") → headlines

  XML parsed into a list.

• Check a response

  =LEN(WEBSERVICE(A1)) → 4,812

  Size of the response, a quick check that the call worked.

• Only GET requests; no headers or authentication beyond what fits in the URL.
• Responses are limited to 32,767 characters.
• Power Query is the better tool for anything scheduled or authenticated.

• #VALUE! when the site is unreachable, blocks Excel, or returns more than the limit.
• Not available on Mac or Excel Online.
• Recalculates with the workbook, which can hammer an API.