# Search detailed targeting (adsap_search_detailed_targeting)

Searches Meta detailed targeting the way the search box in Ads Manager does: interests, behaviors and demographics in one query.

Canonical: https://adsap.ai/docs/tools/adsap_search_detailed_targeting
Updated: 2026-09-27

**Platform:** Meta · **Read or write:** Read · **Plan:** All plans · **Consumes a task:** No · **Preview supported:** No

## What it does

Searches Meta detailed targeting the way the search box in Ads Manager does: interests, behaviors and demographics in one query. Demographics cover job titles, employers, industries, education, life events, parents, relationship status and income. Each result carries a `type`, the key it goes under inside a `flexible_spec` group of [`adsap_create_ad_sets`](/tools/adsap_create_ad_sets).

## When to use it

- Use it while planning an ad set, to get the IDs and types for detailed targeting groups.
- Put each result under its `type` inside a group: `{"family_statuses": [{"id": "6002714398372", "name": "Parents (All)"}]}`. People must match at least one item inside a group, and every group.
- Meta runs this search per ad account, so the tool needs `ad_account_id` and `query`. It returns 25 results by default and 50 at most.
- Meta pads its results with unrelated popular items. Adsap removes those and keeps the results that match your words.
- For housing, employment or financial campaigns, pass `special_ad_category`. Meta then returns approved interests only.
- To see how many people the groups reach, pass the same groups to [`adsap_get_delivery_estimate`](/tools/adsap_get_delivery_estimate).

## Worked example

### You ask

"Find detailed targeting for parents on act_1234567890."

### The assistant calls `adsap_search_detailed_targeting`

```json
{
  "ad_account_id": "act_1234567890",
  "query": "parents",
  "limit": 5
}
```

### Adsap returns

The field names are the ones Adsap returns. The values are examples.

```json
{
  "ok": true,
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "6002714398372",
      "name": "Parents (All)",
      "type": "family_statuses",
      "path": ["Demographics", "Parents", "All parents", "Parents (All)"],
      "description": "People who are likely to be parents",
      "audience_size_lower": 365496461,
      "audience_size_upper": 429823839
    },
    {
      "id": "6003516132642",
      "name": "Parents (magazine)",
      "type": "interests",
      "path": ["Interests", "Additional interests", "Parents (magazine)"],
      "description": null,
      "audience_size_lower": 54241789,
      "audience_size_upper": 63788344
    }
  ],
  "meta": { "total_count": 5, "query": "parents" }
}
```

### How to read it

`type` tells you where the item goes: `Parents (All)` is a demographic under `family_statuses`, while `Parents (magazine)` is an interest under `interests`, so pick by type, not by name. `id` and `name` go into the group as they are. `audience_size_lower` and `audience_size_upper` are Meta's worldwide estimate for that one item, not for your ad set.

Some demographic IDs are small numbers, such as `3` for Married under `relationship_statuses`. Always read an item's `type` together with its `id`. The example shows two of the five results; the other three are the parents by child age groups.

## Parameters

Descriptions are shortened from the tool schema. Your assistant sees the full text.

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `ad_account_id` | string | Yes | Ad account (act_ prefix). Required: Meta runs this search per ad account. |
| `query` | string | Yes | Keyword, e.g. "parents", "nurse", "yoga". |
| `limit` | integer | No |  |
| `special_ad_category` | one of `HOUSING`, `EMPLOYMENT`, `CREDIT`, `FINANCIAL_PRODUCTS_SERVICES`, `ISSUES_ELECTIONS_POLITICS`, `ONLINE_GAMBLING_AND_GAMING` | No | The campaign's Special Ad Category, if it has one. Omit for normal campaigns. |

## Example prompts

- "Find detailed targeting for nurses."
- "Search Meta targeting for people who recently moved."
- "What targeting exists for parents of young children?"

## Notes

Meta removed exclusions for detailed targeting in 2025. To leave people out, exclude a custom audience in the ad set instead.

## Related tools

- [`adsap_get_instant_form`](/tools/adsap_get_instant_form): Read ONE Meta Instant Form in full: questions, intro, privacy policy and custom disclaimer, thank-you screen, tracking parameters, status...
- `adsap_list_ads`: List ALL ads inside an ad set or a campaign, live from Meta: including ads created today that have no delivery yet (which insights-based...
- [`adsap_manage_instant_form`](/tools/adsap_manage_instant_form): Create, duplicate, archive or reactivate a Meta Instant Form: the lead form people fill in without leaving Facebook or Instagram.

## Guide

Read [AI Copilot usage](/guides/ai-copilot/usage) for the workflow around this tool, and the [Tool reference](/tools) for every tool.