HackerNews

API

Free API for HackerNews social news & tech discussions

Overview

The HackerNews API provides RESTful access to content focused on computer science and entrepreneurship. Key endpoints include /topstories, /newstories, /beststories for curated posts; /item/{id} for stories/comments/jobs; /user/{id} for profiles; and category-specific endpoints like /askstories or /jobstories. Responses are JSON-formatted with no authentication required. Use cases include building custom HN clients, integrating HN content into tech platforms, analyzing discussion trends, tracking user activity, and sourcing CS/entrepreneurship news for apps.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://github.com/HackerNews/API')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful
JSON responses
No authentication required
Endpoints for stories/comments/users
Category-specific content

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is the HackerNews API free to use?

Yes, the HackerNews API is completely free with no paid tiers or subscriptions.

? Does it require an API Key?

No, the HackerNews API does not require authentication or an API key for access.

? What is the response format?

All responses from the HackerNews API are in JSON format, ensuring easy parsing for applications.

Top Alternatives

Reddit API Compare

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Social

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ No API key needed
⊕ Simple JSON structure
⊕ Comprehensive HN content access

Cons

⊖ Rate-limited (60 requests/minute)
⊖ No official support
⊖ No uptime SLA