Data.gov API

API

Free API for U.S. federal government open data

Overview

The Data.gov API offers RESTful access to thousands of open datasets from U.S. federal agencies. It returns JSON-formatted responses and includes endpoints for searching datasets, retrieving metadata, accessing resources (e.g., CSV, JSON files), and filtering results by agency, topic, or data format. Use cases include building civic tech apps, conducting policy research, visualizing public health/climate data, and integrating government statistics into analytical tools. It supports pagination and sorting to handle large datasets efficiently.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://api.data.gov/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful architecture
JSON response format
Free API key available
Filterable datasets
Access to federal agency data
Pagination support

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Data.gov API free to use?

Yes, the Data.gov API is completely free. You can register for a free API key on the official website to access its full range of endpoints.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, most requests to the Data.gov API require an API key. You can get one at no cost by signing up on https://api.data.gov/.

? What is the response format?

The Data.gov API primarily returns responses in JSON format, which is widely compatible with most programming languages and applications.

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Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Government

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Free to use
⊕ Extensive U.S. government data coverage
⊕ Regularly updated datasets
⊕ Advanced filtering options
⊕ Well-documented core endpoints

Cons

⊖ Rate-limited requests
⊖ Requires API key for full access
⊖ Some datasets may be outdated
⊖ Variable data quality across sources
⊖ Fragmented dataset-specific documentation