GitHub REST API

API

Programmatic access to GitHub repos, users, code, and collaboration data

Overview

The GitHub REST API offers endpoints to interact with GitHub resources like repositories (CRUD, code content), user profiles (followers, starred repos), organizations, issues, pull requests, and gists. Responses are JSON-formatted. Use cases include automating repo management, analyzing developer activity, building CI/CD integrations, fetching code stats, and creating custom dashboards. It supports OAuth2 authentication, versioning via Accept headers, and pagination for large datasets.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://docs.github.com/en/free-pro-team@latest/rest')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful architecture
JSON response format
OAuth2 authentication
Comprehensive endpoint coverage
Webhook support
Versioned API
Pagination support

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is GitHub REST API free to use?

Yes, with rate limits: 60 unauthenticated requests/hour and up to 5000 authenticated requests/hour. Paid GitHub plans offer higher limits for enterprise use cases.

? Does it require an API Key?

No—authenticated requests use OAuth2 tokens (personal access tokens or OAuth apps). Unauthenticated requests are allowed but have stricter rate limits.

? What is the response format?

All responses are in JSON format, including metadata like pagination links and standard HTTP status codes for success/error handling.

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Tool Info

Pricing Freemium

Category Development

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Extensive GitHub resource access
⊕ Well-documented with examples
⊕ Large developer community
⊕ Real-time updates via webhooks
⊕ Broad tool integration

Cons

⊖ Strict rate limits for unauthenticated requests
⊖ OAuth2 setup required for full access
⊖ Advanced features need paid plans
⊖ Steep learning curve for complex workflows