Gists

Authentication
List gists
Get a single gist
Create a gist
Edit a gist
List gist commits
Star a gist
Unstar a gist
Check if a gist is starred
Fork a gist
List gist forks
Delete a gist

Authentication

You can read public gists and create them for anonymous users without a token; however, to read or write gists on a user’s behalf the gist OAuth scope is required.

List gists

List a user’s gists:

GET /users/:user/gists

List the authenticated user’s gists or if called anonymously, this will return all public gists:

GET /gists

List all public gists:

GET /gists/public

List the authenticated user’s starred gists:

GET /gists/starred

Parameters

Name	Type	Description
`since`	`string`	A timestamp in ISO 8601 format: `YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ`. Only gists updated at or after this time are returned.

Response

Status: 200 OK
Link: <https://api.github.com/resource?page=2>; rel="next",
      <https://api.github.com/resource?page=5>; rel="last"
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/74738e284f1347db628e",
    "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/ffb5e79a4bdbaceca911/forks",
    "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/18785bba9c559870a281/commits",
    "id": "1",
    "description": "description of gist",
    "public": true,
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
      "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": false
    },
    "user": null,
    "files": {
      "ring.erl": {
        "size": 932,
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
        "type": "text/plain",
        "language": "Erlang"
      }
    },
    "comments": 0,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/0a5fdd9f066d7c379e3d/comments/",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/1",
    "git_pull_url": "git://gist.github.com/1.git",
    "git_push_url": "git@gist.github.com:1.git",
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z"
  }
]

Get a single gist

GET /gists/:id

Response

Status: 200 OK
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/74738e284f1347db628e",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/ffb5e79a4bdbaceca911/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/18785bba9c559870a281/commits",
  "id": "1",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/0a5fdd9f066d7c379e3d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/1",
  "git_pull_url": "git://gist.github.com/1.git",
  "git_push_url": "git@gist.github.com:1.git",
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/a37acb24d9767a382126",
      "id": 1,
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/9e354aeab0574e8a5c7a",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "change_status": {
        "deletions": 0,
        "additions": 180,
        "total": 180
      },
      "committed_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z"
    }
  ]
}

Create a gist

POST /gists

Input

Name	Type	Description
`files`	`hash`	Required. Files that make up this gist.
`description`	`string`	A description of the gist.
`public`	`boolean`	Indicates whether the gist is public. Default: `false`

The keys in the files hash are the string filename, and the value is another hash with a key of content, and a value of the file contents. For example:

{
  "description": "the description for this gist",
  "public": true,
  "files": {
    "file1.txt": {
      "content": "String file contents"
    }
  }
}

Note: Don’t name your files “gistfile” with a numerical suffix. This is the format of the automatic naming scheme that Gist uses internally.

Response

Status: 201 Created
Location: https://api.github.com/gists/1
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/74738e284f1347db628e",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/ffb5e79a4bdbaceca911/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/18785bba9c559870a281/commits",
  "id": "1",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/0a5fdd9f066d7c379e3d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/1",
  "git_pull_url": "git://gist.github.com/1.git",
  "git_push_url": "git@gist.github.com:1.git",
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/a37acb24d9767a382126",
      "id": 1,
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/9e354aeab0574e8a5c7a",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "change_status": {
        "deletions": 0,
        "additions": 180,
        "total": 180
      },
      "committed_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z"
    }
  ]
}

Edit a gist

PATCH /gists/:id

Input

Name	Type	Description
`description`	`string`	A description of the gist.
`files`	`hash`	Files that make up this gist.
`content`	`string`	Updated file contents.
`filename`	`string`	New name for this file.

The keys in the files hash are the string filename. The value is another hash with a key of content (indicating the new contents), or filename (indicating the new filename). For example:

{
  "description": "the description for this gist",
  "files": {
    "file1.txt": {
      "content": "updated file contents"
    },
    "old_name.txt": {
      "filename": "new_name.txt",
      "content": "modified contents"
    },
    "new_file.txt": {
      "content": "a new file"
    },
    "delete_this_file.txt": null
  }
}

NOTE: All files from the previous version of the gist are carried over by default if not included in the hash. Deletes can be performed by including the filename with a null hash.

Response

Status: 200 OK
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/74738e284f1347db628e",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/ffb5e79a4bdbaceca911/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/18785bba9c559870a281/commits",
  "id": "1",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/0a5fdd9f066d7c379e3d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/1",
  "git_pull_url": "git://gist.github.com/1.git",
  "git_push_url": "git@gist.github.com:1.git",
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/a37acb24d9767a382126",
      "id": 1,
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/9e354aeab0574e8a5c7a",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "change_status": {
        "deletions": 0,
        "additions": 180,
        "total": 180
      },
      "committed_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z"
    }
  ]
}

List gist commits

GET /gists/:id/commits

Response

Status: 200 OK
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/9e354aeab0574e8a5c7a",
    "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
    "user": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
      "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": false
    },
    "change_status": {
      "deletions": 0,
      "additions": 180,
      "total": 180
    },
    "committed_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z"
  }
]

Star a gist

PUT /gists/:id/star

Response

Status: 204 No Content
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

Unstar a gist

DELETE /gists/:id/star

Response

Status: 204 No Content
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

Check if a gist is starred

GET /gists/:id/star

Response if gist is starred

Status: 204 No Content
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

Response if gist is not starred

Status: 404 Not Found
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

Fork a gist

POST /gists/:id/forks

Note: This was previously /gists/:id/fork

Response

Status: 201 Created
Location: https://api.github.com/gists/2
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/74738e284f1347db628e",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/ffb5e79a4bdbaceca911/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/18785bba9c559870a281/commits",
  "id": "1",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang"
    }
  },
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/0a5fdd9f066d7c379e3d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/1",
  "git_pull_url": "git://gist.github.com/1.git",
  "git_push_url": "git@gist.github.com:1.git",
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z"
}

List gist forks

GET /gists/:id/forks

Response

Status: 200 OK
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

[
  {
    "user": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "somehexcode",
      "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
      "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
      "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
      "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
      "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
      "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
      "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
      "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
      "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
      "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
      "type": "User",
      "site_admin": false
    },
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/a37acb24d9767a382126",
    "id": 1,
    "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
  }
]

Delete a gist

DELETE /gists/:id

Response

Status: 204 No Content
X-RateLimit-Limit: 5000
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 4999

API

Gists

Authentication

List gists

Parameters

Response

Get a single gist

Response

Create a gist

Input

Response

Edit a gist

Input

Response

List gist commits

Response

Star a gist

Response

Unstar a gist

Response

Check if a gist is starred

Response if gist is starred

Response if gist is not starred

Fork a gist

Response

List gist forks

Response

Delete a gist

Response

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