Gists

Authentication

You can read public gists anonymously, but you must be signed into GitHub to create gists. To read or write gists on a user's behalf, you need the gist OAuth scope and a token.

Truncation

The Gist API provides up to one megabyte of content for each file in the gist. Each file returned for a gist through the API has a key called truncated. If truncated is true, the file is too large and only a portion of the contents were returned in content.

If you need the full contents of the file, you can make a GET request to the URL specified by raw_url. Be aware that for files larger than ten megabytes, you'll need to clone the gist via the URL provided by git_pull_url.

In addition to a specific file's contents being truncated, the entire files list may be truncated if the total number exceeds 300 files. If the top level truncated key is true, only the first 300 files have been returned in the files list. If you need to fetch all of the gist's files, you'll need to clone the gist via the URL provided by git_pull_url.

List a user's gists

List public gists for the specified user:

GET /users/:username/gists

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

GET /gists

Parameters

Name Type Description
since string This is 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"

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
    "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
    "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "files": {
      "hello_world.rb": {
        "filename": "hello_world.rb",
        "type": "application/x-ruby",
        "language": "Ruby",
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
        "size": 167
      }
    },
    "public": true,
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
    "description": "Hello World Examples",
    "comments": 0,
    "user": null,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "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
    },
    "truncated": false
  }
]

List all public gists

List all public gists sorted by most recently updated to least recently updated.

Note: With pagination, you can fetch up to 3000 gists. For example, you can fetch 100 pages with 30 gists per page or 30 pages with 100 gists per page.

GET /gists/public

Parameters

Name Type Description
since string This is 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"

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
    "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
    "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "files": {
      "hello_world.rb": {
        "filename": "hello_world.rb",
        "type": "application/x-ruby",
        "language": "Ruby",
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
        "size": 167
      }
    },
    "public": true,
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
    "description": "Hello World Examples",
    "comments": 0,
    "user": null,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "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
    },
    "truncated": false
  }
]

List starred gists

List the authenticated user's starred gists:

GET /gists/starred

Parameters

Name Type Description
since string This is 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"

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
    "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
    "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "files": {
      "hello_world.rb": {
        "filename": "hello_world.rb",
        "type": "application/x-ruby",
        "language": "Ruby",
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
        "size": 167
      }
    },
    "public": true,
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
    "description": "Hello World Examples",
    "comments": 0,
    "user": null,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "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
    },
    "truncated": false
  }
]

Get a single gist

GET /gists/:gist_id

Response

Status: 200 OK

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
  "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "filename": "hello_world.rb",
      "type": "application/x-ruby",
      "language": "Ruby",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
      "size": 167,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld\n   def initialize(name)\n      @name = name.capitalize\n   end\n   def sayHi\n      puts \"Hello !\"\n   end\nend\n\nhello = HelloWorld.new(\"World\")\nhello.sayHi"
    },
    "hello_world.py": {
      "filename": "hello_world.py",
      "type": "application/x-python",
      "language": "Python",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/99c1bf3a345505c2e6195198d5f8c36267de570b/hello_world.py",
      "size": 199,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld:\n\n    def __init__(self, name):\n        self.name = name.capitalize()\n       \n    def sayHi(self):\n        print \"Hello \" + self.name + \"!\"\n\nhello = HelloWorld(\"world\")\nhello.sayHi()"
    },
    "hello_world_ruby.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/9e4544db60e01a261aac098592b11333704e9082/hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "size": 46,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` to print Hello World"
    },
    "hello_world_python.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_python.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/076b4b78c10c9b7e1e0b73ffb99631bfc948de3b/hello_world_python.txt",
      "size": 48,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World"
    }
  },
  "public": true,
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "comments": 0,
  "user": null,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "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
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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/dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "id": "dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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"
    }
  ]
}

Get a specific revision of a gist

GET /gists/:gist_id/:sha

Response

Status: 200 OK

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
  "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "filename": "hello_world.rb",
      "type": "application/x-ruby",
      "language": "Ruby",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
      "size": 167,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld\n   def initialize(name)\n      @name = name.capitalize\n   end\n   def sayHi\n      puts \"Hello !\"\n   end\nend\n\nhello = HelloWorld.new(\"World\")\nhello.sayHi"
    },
    "hello_world.py": {
      "filename": "hello_world.py",
      "type": "application/x-python",
      "language": "Python",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/99c1bf3a345505c2e6195198d5f8c36267de570b/hello_world.py",
      "size": 199,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld:\n\n    def __init__(self, name):\n        self.name = name.capitalize()\n       \n    def sayHi(self):\n        print \"Hello \" + self.name + \"!\"\n\nhello = HelloWorld(\"world\")\nhello.sayHi()"
    },
    "hello_world_ruby.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/9e4544db60e01a261aac098592b11333704e9082/hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "size": 46,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` to print Hello World"
    },
    "hello_world_python.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_python.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/076b4b78c10c9b7e1e0b73ffb99631bfc948de3b/hello_world_python.txt",
      "size": 48,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World"
    }
  },
  "public": true,
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "comments": 0,
  "user": null,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "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
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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/dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "id": "dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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

Allows you to add a new gist with one or more files.

POST /gists

Input

Name Type Description
files object Required. The filenames and content of each file in the gist. The keys in the files object represent the filename and have the type string.
description string A descriptive name for this gist.
public boolean When true, the gist will be public and available for anyone to see. Default: false

The value for each of the filenames in files is an object with this key:

Name Type Description
content string The content of the file.

Example

{
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "public": true,
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "content": "class HelloWorld\n   def initialize(name)\n      @name = name.capitalize\n   end\n   def sayHi\n      puts \"Hello !\"\n   end\nend\n\nhello = HelloWorld.new(\"World\")\nhello.sayHi"
    },
    "hello_world.py": {
      "content": "class HelloWorld:\n\n    def __init__(self, name):\n        self.name = name.capitalize()\n       \n    def sayHi(self):\n        print \"Hello \" + self.name + \"!\"\n\nhello = HelloWorld(\"world\")\nhello.sayHi()"
    },
    "hello_world_ruby.txt": {
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` to print Hello World"
    },
    "hello_world_python.txt": {
      "content": "Run `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World"
    }
  }
}

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/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
  "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "filename": "hello_world.rb",
      "type": "application/x-ruby",
      "language": "Ruby",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
      "size": 167,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld\n   def initialize(name)\n      @name = name.capitalize\n   end\n   def sayHi\n      puts \"Hello !\"\n   end\nend\n\nhello = HelloWorld.new(\"World\")\nhello.sayHi"
    },
    "hello_world.py": {
      "filename": "hello_world.py",
      "type": "application/x-python",
      "language": "Python",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/99c1bf3a345505c2e6195198d5f8c36267de570b/hello_world.py",
      "size": 199,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld:\n\n    def __init__(self, name):\n        self.name = name.capitalize()\n       \n    def sayHi(self):\n        print \"Hello \" + self.name + \"!\"\n\nhello = HelloWorld(\"world\")\nhello.sayHi()"
    },
    "hello_world_ruby.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/9e4544db60e01a261aac098592b11333704e9082/hello_world_ruby.txt",
      "size": 46,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` to print Hello World"
    },
    "hello_world_python.txt": {
      "filename": "hello_world_python.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/076b4b78c10c9b7e1e0b73ffb99631bfc948de3b/hello_world_python.txt",
      "size": 48,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World"
    }
  },
  "public": true,
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "comments": 0,
  "user": null,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "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
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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/dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "id": "dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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

Allows you to update or delete a gist file and rename gist files. Files from the previous version of the gist that aren't explicitly changed during an edit are unchanged.

PATCH /gists/:gist_id

Input

Name Type Description
description string A descriptive name for this gist.
files object The filenames and content that make up this gist.

The value for each of the filenames in files is an object with these keys:

Name Type Description
content string The updated content of the file.
filename string The new name for this file. To delete a file, set the value of the filename to null.

Example

{
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "files": {
    "hello_world_ruby.txt": {
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` or `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World",
      "filename": "hello_world.md"
    },
    "hello_world_python.txt": null,
    "new_file.txt": {
      "content": "This is a new placeholder file."
    }
  }
}

Response

Status: 200 OK

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
  "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "filename": "hello_world.rb",
      "type": "application/x-ruby",
      "language": "Ruby",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
      "size": 167,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld\n   def initialize(name)\n      @name = name.capitalize\n   end\n   def sayHi\n      puts \"Hello !\"\n   end\nend\n\nhello = HelloWorld.new(\"World\")\nhello.sayHi"
    },
    "hello_world.py": {
      "filename": "hello_world.py",
      "type": "application/x-python",
      "language": "Python",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/e29f3839074953e1cc2934867fa5f2d2/raw/99c1bf3a345505c2e6195198d5f8c36267de570b/hello_world.py",
      "size": 199,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "class HelloWorld:\n\n    def __init__(self, name):\n        self.name = name.capitalize()\n       \n    def sayHi(self):\n        print \"Hello \" + self.name + \"!\"\n\nhello = HelloWorld(\"world\")\nhello.sayHi()"
    },
    "hello_world.md": {
      "filename": "hello_world.md",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Markdown",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/8df0a8f642973cbda937bf542d37d4e9/raw/4221bb4b942568c4e3ab253022d2b7fec7844f21/hello_world.md",
      "size": 73,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "Run `ruby hello_world.rb` or `python hello_world.py` to print Hello World"
    },
    "new_file.txt": {
      "filename": "new_file.txt",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Text",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/8df0a8f642973cbda937bf542d37d4e9/raw/56ab7bdf864fa11c1e16acce2a5116171514d2d1/new_file.txt",
      "size": 31,
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "This is a new placeholder file."
    }
  },
  "public": true,
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "comments": 0,
  "user": null,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "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
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "forks": [
    {
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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/dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "id": "dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
      "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
      "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
    }
  ],
  "history": [
    {
      "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
      "user": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "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/:gist_id/commits

Response

Status: 200 OK
Link: <https://api.github.com/resource?page=2>; rel="next"

[
  {
    "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
    "version": "57a7f021a713b1c5a6a199b54cc514735d2d462f",
    "user": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "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/:gist_id/star

Note that you'll need to set Content-Length to zero when calling out to this endpoint. For more information, see "HTTP verbs."

Response

Status: 204 No Content

Unstar a gist

DELETE /gists/:gist_id/star

Response

Status: 204 No Content

Check if a gist is starred

GET /gists/:gist_id/star

Response if gist is starred

Status: 204 No Content

Response if gist is not starred

Status: 404 Not Found

Fork a gist

POST /gists/:gist_id/forks

Note: This was previously /gists/:gist_id/fork.

Response

Status: 201 Created
Location: https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d

{
  "url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/forks",
  "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/commits",
  "id": "aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "node_id": "MDQ6R2lzdGFhNWEzMTVkNjFhZTk0MzhiMThk",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "files": {
    "hello_world.rb": {
      "filename": "hello_world.rb",
      "type": "application/x-ruby",
      "language": "Ruby",
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/octocat/6cad326836d38bd3a7ae/raw/db9c55113504e46fa076e7df3a04ce592e2e86d8/hello_world.rb",
      "size": 167
    }
  },
  "public": true,
  "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
  "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z",
  "description": "Hello World Examples",
  "comments": 0,
  "user": null,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "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
  },
  "truncated": false
}

List gist forks

GET /gists/:gist_id/forks

Response

Status: 200 OK
Link: <https://api.github.com/resource?page=2>; rel="next",
      <https://api.github.com/resource?page=5>; rel="last"

[
  {
    "user": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
      "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
      "gravatar_id": "",
      "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/dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
    "id": "dee9c42e4998ce2ea439",
    "created_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
  }
]

Delete a gist

DELETE /gists/:gist_id

Response

Status: 204 No Content

Custom media types

The following media types are supported when fetching gist contents. You can read more about the use of media types in the API here.

application/vnd.github.VERSION.raw
application/vnd.github.VERSION.base64