Open Library API
Overview
Open Library is the Internet Archive's book database covering millions of editions, authors, and subjects. It returns rich bibliographic data including cover art links and OCLC numbers.
Beginner Tip
The easiest endpoint is the ISBN lookup: https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780140328721.json — no key needed and it returns a full book record immediately.
Available Data
Example Response
{
"title": "The Great Gatsby",
"authors": [
"F. Scott Fitzgerald"
],
"publishedDate": "1925-04-10",
"pageCount": 218,
"categories": [
"Fiction"
],
"imageLinks": {
"thumbnail": "https://books.google.com/..."
},
"averageRating": 4
} Field Reference
numFound Total number of works matching the search query. docs Array of matching work objects. docs[].key Open Library work key, e.g. "/works/OL45804W". docs[].title Title of the book. docs[].author_name List of author name strings for this work. docs[].cover_i Cover image ID; build URL as https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/{cover_i}-M.jpg. Implementation Example
// ⚠️ Note: This URL may be a documentation page. Check official docs for actual API endpoint.
const url = "https://openlibrary.org/developers/api";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data); What Can You Build?
Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
Matrix Score Breakdown
Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026
Technical Specifications
Related Tags
Alternatives to Open Library
Technical alternatives for different use cases.
Larger catalog with book previews and purchase links
Commercial book discovery and preview features
Open data access and community contributions
Free public domain books from Project Gutenberg
Accessing full-text public domain ebooks
Modern book metadata and cover images
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