Gists

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.

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 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",
    "description": "description of gist",
    "public": true,
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "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
    },
    "user": null,
    "files": {
      "ring.erl": {
        "size": 932,
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
        "type": "text/plain",
        "truncated": false,
        "language": "Erlang"
      }
    },
    "truncated": false,
    "comments": 0,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z"
  }
]

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 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",
    "description": "description of gist",
    "public": true,
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "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
    },
    "user": null,
    "files": {
      "ring.erl": {
        "size": 932,
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
        "type": "text/plain",
        "truncated": false,
        "language": "Erlang"
      }
    },
    "truncated": false,
    "comments": 0,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "created_at": "2010-04-14T02:15:15Z",
    "updated_at": "2011-06-20T11:34:15Z"
  }
]

List starred gists

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"

[
  {
    "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",
    "description": "description of gist",
    "public": true,
    "owner": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "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
    },
    "user": null,
    "files": {
      "ring.erl": {
        "size": 932,
        "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
        "type": "text/plain",
        "truncated": false,
        "language": "Erlang"
      }
    },
    "truncated": false,
    "comments": 0,
    "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
    "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
    "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
    "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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

{
  "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",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "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
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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": "",
        "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,
        "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/: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",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "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
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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": "",
        "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,
        "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

POST /gists

Input

Name Type Description
files object 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 object are the string filename, and the value is another object 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/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",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "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
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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": "",
        "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,
        "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

PATCH /gists/:id

Input

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

The keys in the files object are the string filename. The value is another object 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 object. Deletes can be performed by including the filename with a null object.

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",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "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
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "language": "Erlang",
      "truncated": false,
      "content": "contents of gist"
    }
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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": "",
        "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,
        "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/: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,
      "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/: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/:id/star

Response

Status: 204 No Content

Check if a gist is starred

GET /gists/: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/:id/forks

Note: This was previously /gists/: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",
  "description": "description of gist",
  "public": true,
  "owner": {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "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
  },
  "user": null,
  "files": {
    "ring.erl": {
      "size": 932,
      "raw_url": "https://gist.githubusercontent.com/raw/365370/8c4d2d43d178df44f4c03a7f2ac0ff512853564e/ring.erl",
      "type": "text/plain",
      "truncated": false,
      "language": "Erlang"
    }
  },
  "truncated": false,
  "comments": 0,
  "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/gists/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d/comments/",
  "html_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d",
  "git_pull_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.git",
  "git_push_url": "https://gist.github.com/aa5a315d61ae9438b18d.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
Link: <https://api.github.com/resource?page=2>; rel="next",
      <https://api.github.com/resource?page=5>; rel="last"

[
  {
    "user": {
      "login": "octocat",
      "id": 1,
      "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/: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