# Visibility research

Availability: Planned API.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-28.

Observe where a business or page appears under a defined search context. The planned visibility result preserves query, device, location, time and source.

## Define the observation

Provide business/domain identity, terms, locality or grid, device/language and scan mode. A query at one point is not visibility across every address or the entire territory.

Local scan planning may seed values before acquisition. Those seeds must not be displayed as measured positions.

## Interpret the result

Retain observed positions or visibility metrics only when evidence-backed. Include missing-result reasons, coverage, freshness and partial/uncertain states. An unavailable source is not proof that the business is absent.

For example, comparing the same query/grid across two dates can show a measured change only when the observation method and scope remain compatible.

## Keep rank definitions separate

Keyword position and local visibility may support a defined business-rank metric, but they do not automatically establish one. See [territory rank](/docs/guides/territory-rank). Modeled market opportunity is a different outcome.

## Availability

This business API is planned. Refresh is explicit authorized acquisition; retrieving saved observations must not create new provider tasks or incur hidden scan cost.