Python API Request Example (GET Request)

This beginner-friendly example shows how to make a simple GET request in Python, read the response, and handle basic problems.

If you want the fastest working version first, use this:

import requests

url = "https://api.github.com/users/octocat"
response = requests.get(url)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

This example uses the requests package and prints:

The HTTP status code
The JSON response from the API

What this example does

This example is useful because it shows the basic pattern for working with APIs in Python.

It will:

Send a simple GET request to a public API
Use the requests package
Print the HTTP status code
Read JSON data from the response
Keep the code small and easy to follow

What you need before running it

Before you run the code, make sure you have:

Python installed on your computer
The requests package installed
An internet connection
A public API URL that allows GET requests

Install requests

To install requests, run this in your terminal:

pip install requests

If that does not work, try:

python -m pip install requests

Make sure you install it in the same Python environment you are using to run your script.

You can check that requests is installed with:

python -c "import requests; print(requests.__version__)"

If Python says the module cannot be found, see how to fix ModuleNotFoundError or how to fix ImportError.

Basic GET request example

Here is a complete beginner-friendly example:

import requests

url = "https://api.github.com/users/octocat"

response = requests.get(url)

print("Status code:", response.status_code)
print("JSON data:", response.json())

How this code works

import requests loads the package
url = ... stores the API address in a variable
requests.get(url) sends a GET request to that URL
response.status_code shows the result of the request
response.json() converts the JSON response into Python data

Example output

The exact output may vary, but it will look something like this:

Status code: 200
JSON data: {'login': 'octocat', 'id': 583231, 'type': 'User', ...}

If you want a broader walkthrough, see how to make an API request in Python.

How to understand the response

When you send a request, the server sends back a response.

Here are the most important parts for beginners:

status_code tells you whether the request worked
200 usually means success
response.text gives the raw response as plain text
response.json() converts JSON into Python objects
JSON objects usually become Python dictionaries

Example:

import requests

url = "https://api.github.com/users/octocat"
response = requests.get(url)

print("Status code:", response.status_code)
print("Text response:")
print(response.text[:200])  # first 200 characters

data = response.json()
print("User login:", data["login"])

In this example:

response.text shows the raw content
data = response.json() creates a Python dictionary
data["login"] gets one value from that dictionary

If you want more help reading API output, see how to handle API responses in Python and the Python JSON module overview.

Safer version with error handling

The first example works, but real programs should handle errors.

This version is safer for beginners:

import requests

url = "https://api.github.com/users/octocat"

try:
    response = requests.get(url, timeout=10)
    response.raise_for_status()

    data = response.json()
    print("Request worked")
    print("Status code:", response.status_code)
    print("Login:", data["login"])

except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
    print("The request took too long and timed out.")

except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
    print("Could not connect to the server.")

except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as error:
    print("The server returned an HTTP error:", error)

except ValueError:
    print("The response was not valid JSON.")

Why this version is better

timeout=10 prevents the program from waiting forever
raise_for_status() turns bad HTTP responses into errors
try-except lets you show simple messages instead of crashing

This is a good next step after learning the basic example.

Common problems beginners hit

Here are some common causes when this example does not work:

The requests package is not installed
The API URL is incorrect
The server returns text or HTML instead of JSON
The request needs headers or authentication
The network connection fails or times out

You may also run into these specific issues:

ModuleNotFoundError if requests is not installed
JSON decode errors if the API does not return JSON
404 if the URL is wrong
Timeout errors if the server is slow
Permission or authentication problems with private APIs

Helpful commands:

python -m pip install requests
python -c "import requests; print(requests.__version__)"
python -c "import requests; print(requests.get('https://api.github.com').status_code)"

If you are working with JSON strings directly, how json.loads() works can also help.

When to use this example

This example is a good fit when you want to:

Test a public API
Learn how Python works with web data
Fetch JSON for scripts and small projects
Start with GET requests before learning POST requests or authentication

After this, a good next step is learning how to send a POST request in Python.

FAQ

What is a GET request in Python?

A GET request asks a server for data. In Python, beginners often use requests.get() to do this.

Do I need the requests package?

For this example, yes. It is the easiest beginner-friendly way to send HTTP requests.

Why use response.json()?

Use it when the API sends JSON. It converts the response into Python data like dictionaries and lists.

What if the API does not return JSON?

Use response.text instead. Trying response.json() on non-JSON data can cause an error.

What status code means success?

200 usually means the request worked.