Yesterday we reported that the data that comes out of the web interface and API for Search Analytics within the Google Search Console are the same for the most part, minus any API limits. So Kyle Blanchette asked John Mueller of Google why are the total numbers sometimes 20% or so off from each other.
The answer was simple, as John said on Twitter the API and the table export returns the individual results, not a total summary - while the web interface does. Because of that, the total number on top of the web user interface includes filtered queries, whereas the API and table export do not include filtered queries.
It is just a summary data section in the web API, a different way to look at the numbers.
Here are the tweets:
@kgblanchette The total (number on top) includes filtered queries which aren't included in the individual results returned (or in the table).
— John ☆.o(≧▽≦)o.☆ (@JohnMu) May 9, 2017
Fuzzy math.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
