You can use GitHub's API to build scripts and applications that automate processes, integrate with GitHub, and extend GitHub. For example, you could use the API to triage issues, build an analytics dashboard, or manage releases.
Each REST API endpoint is documented individually, and the endpoints are categorized by the resource that they primarily affect. For example, you can find endpoints relating to issues in REST API endpoints for issues.
Getting started with the REST API
If you are new to REST APIs, start with the Quickstart or Getting Started guide:
If you are familiar with REST APIs but new to GitHub's REST API, see the authentication documentation:
If you are building scripts or applications that use the REST API, the following guides can help:
- Scripting with the REST API and JavaScript
- Scripting with the REST API and Ruby
- Building a GitHub App that responds to webhook events
- Building a CLI with a GitHub App
- Automatically redelivering failed deliveries for a repository webhook
For a list of libraries to facilitate scripting with the REST API, see Libraries for the REST API.
If you are building scripts or applications that use the REST API, you might also be interested in using webhooks to get notified about events or a GitHub App to access resources on behalf of a user or in an organization. For more information, see About webhooks and Deciding when to build a GitHub App.