Increased flexibility, efficiency, and reliability
Do you use the NCBI Datasets command-line tools or API? As of January 2025, you will have the option to use an API key to increase your rate of access. This update will provide you more flexibility and efficiency, while still maintaining robust access for everyone. Note that these changes will not affect web users.
What to expect?
Without an API Key: You will be limited to 5 requests per second.
With an API Key: You will be able to make 10 requests per second.
Test your API key today!
We have made a temporary rate-limited URL that is available for testing with your API key. We encourage you to try it out and share your feedback.
Learn more
Learn more about API keys, including how to get your own API key, how to use your API key with NCBI Datasets, and how to test the temporary rate-limited URL to prepare for the rate limits that will be applied to the NCBI Datasets command-line tools and API in January 2025.
Stay up to date
Follow us on social @NCBI and join our mailing list to keep up to date with NCBI Datasets and other NCBI news.
Questions?
Our team is dedicated to supporting you. Please reach out to us if you have questions, need help, or would like to provide feedback.