License-API

API

Unofficial REST API for accessing open source license data from choosealicense.com

Overview

The License-API is an unofficial RESTful interface to choosealicense.com, offering programmatic access to open source license information. Key endpoints include listing all licenses, retrieving detailed terms/permissions for a specific license (e.g., MIT, GPL), and filtering licenses by criteria like permissiveness. Responses are formatted in JSON for seamless integration. Use cases include developers building project scaffolding tools, documentation generators, or license comparison platforms to help users select appropriate open source licenses efficiently.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://github.com/cmccandless/license-api/blob/master/README.md')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful interface
JSON response format
No authentication required
License filtering capabilities
Detailed license metadata access

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is License-API free to use?

Yes, License-API is completely free and open source, with no hidden costs or paid tiers.

? Does it require an API Key?

No, the API does not require authentication or an API key for accessing its endpoints.

? What is the response format?

All responses from License-API are in JSON format, making it easy to parse and integrate into applications.

Top Alternatives

SPDX License API Search Google

Official choosealicense.com (web interface) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Development

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Free and open source
⊕ Easy to integrate into dev tools
⊕ Comprehensive license details
⊕ No API key needed

Cons

⊖ Unofficial (no official support)
⊖ Potential data sync delays
⊖ Limited to choosealicense.com's collection