If there are popular results to include in the query and you've specified result_type=mixed or result_type=popular you should get popular results in the API response.
For example: curl " http://search.twitter.com/search.json?q=twitter&count=4&result_type=mixed" { "max_id": 60718586028752896, "results": [ { "created_at": "Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:52:32 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1298541872/tracy-morgan_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "222949271", "id_str": "60173910607536129", "from_user": "ImTracyMorgan", "text": "Facebook asks what I’m thinking. Twitter asks what I’m doing. Foursquare asks where I am. The internet has turned into a crazy girlfriend.", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "recent_retweets": 3000, "result_type": "popular" }, "id": 60173910607536129, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 222949271, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:15:24 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1256175877/176406_1555413735274_1533120144_31155785_3673904_o_normal.jpg ", "from_user_id_str": "110265478", "id_str": "60073966752116736", "from_user": "WizardKellyYall", "text": "If it was a such thing called Black Twitter it would be called "Twidda"", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "recent_retweets": 600, "result_type": "popular" }, "id": 60073966752116736, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 110265478, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:53:25 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1258281289/300px-Lordvoldemort_normal.jpg ", "from_user_id_str": "129340600", "id_str": "60113731371278336", "from_user": "Lord_Voldemort7", "text": "#relationshiptip101: If you need relationship tips from twitter then you are doomed to be alone forever.", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "recent_retweets": 1000, "result_type": "popular" }, "id": 60113731371278336, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 129340600, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/1316870276/IMG02260-20110418-2211_normal.jpg ", "from_user_id_str": "193768125", "id_str": "60718586028752896", "from_user": "vaaaneeey", "text": "sip, tp gw bisanya greja ytg malem gbisa sore, gw les hehe RT @feliciaivon: Gua tak ada pulsa @vaaaneeey , gu… (cont) http://deck.ly/~9Pqcs", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718586028752896, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 193768125, "iso_language_code": "es", "source": "<a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com" rel="nofollow">TweetDeck</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1200995180/Avatar_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "102169568", "id_str": "60718585974239233", "from_user": "ArnoMendoza", "text": "@anniieepolianni Bueno pero se entiende jeje... no sabia que tenias twitter hahaha me hubieras dicho desde antes :P", "to_user_id": 240811959, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585974239233, "geo": null, "to_user": "anniieePolianni", "from_user_id": 102169568, "iso_language_code": "es", "source": "<a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com" rel="nofollow">TweetDeck</a>", "to_user_id_str": "240811959" }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1308101599/aaa_murri_normal.png", "from_user_id_str": "272560507", "id_str": "60718585928093696", "from_user": "LanzaMyMaionese", "text": "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ORKUT VAI SE ARROMBA PORRA. ~alok~ recebi um e-mail do twitter .", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585928093696, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 272560507, "iso_language_code": "es", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1229827367/35436_139400446070109_100000004646845_428367_187519_n_normal.jpg ", "from_user_id_str": "223079715", "id_str": "60718585735163904", "from_user": "ryeotikong9", "text": "makasih :* RT @aShortJourney_: @ryeotikong9 thanks for being my twitter bff, here's a little heart for you ♥ (via http://twitbffs.com)", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585735163904, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 223079715, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href="http://www.snaptu.com" rel="nofollow">Snaptu</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1315014621/CST_week_02_-_Goudkarpersingel__11_-1_normal.JPG ", "from_user_id_str": "253704777", "id_str": "60718585714192384", "from_user": "KleineGek2", "text": "RT @Domheid: Ouders zijn beswel dom vroeger toen je klein was en je wilde niet naar bed gingen ze tellen to… (cont) http://deck.ly/~u4tjo ", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585714192384, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 253704777, "iso_language_code": "nl", "source": "<a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com" rel="nofollow">TweetDeck</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1287832854/DSC00933a_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "70819126", "id_str": "60718585491890176", "from_user": "nyzecrazee", "text": "@iananim kena reject dengan twitter ke?", "to_user_id": 126372364, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585491890176, "geo": null, "to_user": "iananim", "from_user_id": 70819126, "iso_language_code": "nl", "source": "<a href="http://www.echofon.com/" rel="nofollow">Echofon</a>", "to_user_id_str": "126372364" }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1287492928/crop_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "156537447", "id_str": "60718585328320513", "from_user": "PrincessCheonsa", "text": "ai don ker RT @nuy_bLacksmile: heboh y beb..LOL~~ RT @palaganrona allahu akbar profile twitter nya @PrincessCheonsa bikin gw kebelet boker~", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585328320513, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 156537447, "iso_language_code": "id", "source": "<a href="http://mobtweet.net" rel="nofollow">mobTweet</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1251290724/kels_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "233398157", "id_str": "60718585114402816", "from_user": "kelsbiebz", "text": "RT @ezgiland96: @kelsbiebz @justinbieber Please click to link , RT and add it to favorite statu http://t.co/H53DnLv", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718585114402816, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 233398157, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href=" http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twitter/id409789998?mt=12" rel="nofollow">Twitter for Mac</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1287080302/Picture0004_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "215664791", "id_str": "60718584938233856", "from_user": "a_lebris", "text": "RT @surexxposure: Aux #journalistes en poste : questionnaire sur votre usage des réseaux sociaux. RT svp. http://bit.ly/eI0fwp #twitter #facebook", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718584938233856, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 215664791, "iso_language_code": "fr", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1170176711/eu_normal.JPG", "from_user_id_str": "31732080", "id_str": "60718584715943936", "from_user": "angelotiberio", "text": "Alex Silva xingando muito no twitter.", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718584715943936, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 31732080, "iso_language_code": "it", "source": "<a href="http://twitter.com/">web</a> ;", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/1157028089/HPIM0044_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "176424558", "id_str": "60718584711745536", "from_user": "mannyps", "text": "Get more & better quality Twitter followers with these amazing tools. Build your followers the right way. http://lx.im/1bLA8 - ad", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718584711745536, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 176424558, "iso_language_code": "en", "source": "<a href="http://mylikes.com" rel="nofollow">MyLikes Network</a>", "to_user_id_str": null }, { "created_at": "Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:56:53 +0000", "profile_image_url": " http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/1314374974/DSC01000_normal.jpg", "from_user_id_str": "252512015", "id_str": "60718584346836992", "from_user": "NovriCihuy", "text": "majas itu apa yak? haha RT @ghinaardiana: majasss..RT @NovriCihuy: tanya rumput yg bergoyang dah RT @ghinaardi(cont) http://deck.ly/~PCZSe", "to_user_id": null, "metadata": { "result_type": "recent" }, "id": 60718584346836992, "geo": null, "from_user_id": 252512015, "iso_language_code": "id", "source": "<a href="http://www.twitscoop.com" rel="nofollow">Twitscoop</a>", "to_user_id_str": null } ], "since_id": 0, "refresh_url": "?since_id=60718586028752896&q=twitter", "next_page": "?page=2&max_id=60718586028752896&offset_recent_correction=3&q=twitter", "page": 1, "results_per_page": 15, "completed_in": 0.104747, "since_id_str": "0", "query": "twitter", "max_id_str": "60718586028752896" } @episod <http://twitter.com/episod> - Taylor Singletary On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 7:41 PM, mar heck <marceloh...@gmail.com> wrote: > search on api not return result:popular ? > > -- > Twitter developer documentation and resources: http://dev.twitter.com/doc > API updates via Twitter: http://twitter.com/twitterapi > Issues/Enhancements Tracker: > http://code.google.com/p/twitter-api/issues/list > Change your membership to this group: > http://groups.google.com/group/twitter-development-talk > -- Twitter developer documentation and resources: http://dev.twitter.com/doc API updates via Twitter: http://twitter.com/twitterapi Issues/Enhancements Tracker: http://code.google.com/p/twitter-api/issues/list Change your membership to this group: http://groups.google.com/group/twitter-development-talk