Welcome to the documentation for 4chan's read-only JSON API, originally launched in September of 2012.
Data from the 4chan API is exclusively accessible from a.4cdn.org, via either http:// or https:// protocols. a.4cdn.org serves JSON representations of posts made at 4chan.org and 4channel.org boards. All examples in the documentation for the 4chan API use https://.
CORS is supported from origins boards.4chan.org or boards.4channel.org, via http:// or https://. Requests are accepted when using the following HTTP request types:
| Documentation Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Endpoints and Site Domains | A quick rundown of all 4chan API endpoints and site domains. |
| Media and Static Content | Paths and locations for static site content including custom spoiler images, country flags, capcodes and user submitted media |
| Archive.json | Documentation for the 4chan native archive and its JSON |
| Boards.json | Documentation for the 4chan board list and its attributes. |
| Catalog.json | Documentation for the JSON representation of the 4chan native catalog |
| Index endpoint | Documentation for the JSON representaion of board index (main) pages |
| Thread endpoint | Documentation for the JSON representation of specific 4chan threads. |
| Thread list | Documentation for the board threadlist and its brief stats |
- Do not make more than one request per second.
- Thread updating should be set to a minimum of 10 seconds, preferably higher.
- Use If-Modified-Since when doing your requests.
- Make API requests using the same protocol as the app. Only use SSL when a user is accessing your app over HTTPS.
- You may not use "4chan" in the title of your application, product, or service.
- You may not use the 4chan name, logo, or brand to promote your application, product, or service.
- You must disclose the source of the information shown by your application, product, or service as 4chan, and provide a link.
- You may not market your application, product, or service as being "official" in any way.
- You may not clone 4chan or its existing features/functionality. Example: Don't suck down our JSON, host it elsewhere, and throw ads around it.
- These terms are subject to change without notice.
To view a pretty-printed version of our thread, index, and catalog JSON, use JSONLint.
Still have questions or concerns? Open an issue or email api@4chan.org