---
title: instance API methods
description: Discover information about a Mastodon website.
menu:
docs:
weight: 70
name: instance
parent: methods
identifier: methods-instance
aliases: [
"/methods/instance",
"/api/methods/instance",
]
---
<style>
#TableOfContents ul ul ul {display: none}
</style>
## View server information {#v2}
```http
GET /api/v2/instance
```
Obtain general information about the server.
**Returns:** [Instance]({{< relref "entities/Instance" >}})\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
4.0.0 - added\
4.3.0 - added `configuration.vapid.public_key`
#### Response
##### 200: OK
```json
{
"domain": "mastodon.social",
"title": "Mastodon",
"version": "4.0.0rc1",
"source_url": "https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon",
"description": "The original server operated by the Mastodon gGmbH non-profit",
"usage": {
"users": {
"active_month": 123122
}
},
"thumbnail": {
"url": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/001/@1x/57c12f441d083cde.png",
"blurhash": "UeKUpFxuo~R%0nW;WCnhF6RjaJt757oJodS$",
"versions": {
"@1x": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/001/@1x/57c12f441d083cde.png",
"@2x": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/001/@2x/57c12f441d083cde.png"
}
},
"icon": [
{
"src": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/003/36/accf17b0104f18e5.png",
"size": "36x36"
},
{
"src": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/003/72/accf17b0104f18e5.png",
"size": "72x72"
},
{
"src": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/003/192/accf17b0104f18e5.png",
"size": "192x192"
},
{
"src": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/003/512/accf17b0104f18e5.png",
"size": "512x512"
}
],
"languages": [
"en"
],
"configuration": {
"urls": {
"streaming": "wss://mastodon.social"
},
"vapid": {
"public_key": "BCkMmVdKDnKYwzVCDC99Iuc9GvId-x7-kKtuHnLgfF98ENiZp_aj-UNthbCdI70DqN1zUVis-x0Wrot2sBagkMc="
},
"accounts": {
"max_featured_tags": 10,
"max_pinned_statuses": 4
},
"statuses": {
"max_characters": 500,
"max_media_attachments": 4,
"characters_reserved_per_url": 23
},
"media_attachments": {
"supported_mime_types": [
"image/jpeg",
"image/png",
"image/gif",
"image/heic",
"image/heif",
"image/webp",
"video/webm",
"video/mp4",
"video/quicktime",
"video/ogg",
"audio/wave",
"audio/wav",
"audio/x-wav",
"audio/x-pn-wave",
"audio/vnd.wave",
"audio/ogg",
"audio/vorbis",
"audio/mpeg",
"audio/mp3",
"audio/webm",
"audio/flac",
"audio/aac",
"audio/m4a",
"audio/x-m4a",
"audio/mp4",
"audio/3gpp",
"video/x-ms-asf"
],
"description_limit": 1500,
"image_size_limit": 10485760,
"image_matrix_limit": 16777216,
"video_size_limit": 41943040,
"video_frame_rate_limit": 60,
"video_matrix_limit": 2304000
},
"polls": {
"max_options": 4,
"max_characters_per_option": 50,
"min_expiration": 300,
"max_expiration": 2629746
},
"translation": {
"enabled": true
}
},
"registrations": {
"enabled": false,
"approval_required": false,
"message": null
},
"contact": {
"email": "staff@mastodon.social",
"account": {
"id": "1",
"username": "Gargron",
"acct": "Gargron",
"display_name": "Eugen 💀",
"locked": false,
"bot": false,
"discoverable": true,
"group": false,
"created_at": "2016-03-16T00:00:00.000Z",
"note": "<p>Founder, CEO and lead developer <span class=\"h-card\"><a href=\"https://mastodon.social/@Mastodon\" class=\"u-url mention\">@<span>Mastodon</span></a></span>, Germany.</p>",
"url": "https://mastodon.social/@Gargron",
"avatar": "https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/dc4286ceb8fab734.jpg",
"avatar_static": "https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/dc4286ceb8fab734.jpg",
"header": "https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/headers/000/000/001/original/3b91c9965d00888b.jpeg",
"header_static": "https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/headers/000/000/001/original/3b91c9965d00888b.jpeg",
"followers_count": 133026,
"following_count": 311,
"statuses_count": 72605,
"last_status_at": "2022-10-31",
"noindex": false,
"emojis": [],
"fields": [
{
"name": "Patreon",
"value": "<a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/mastodon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer me\"><span class=\"invisible\">https://www.</span><span class=\"\">patreon.com/mastodon</span><span class=\"invisible\"></span></a>",
"verified_at": null
}
]
}
},
"rules": [
{
"id": "1",
"text": "Sexually explicit or violent media must be marked as sensitive when posting"
},
{
"id": "2",
"text": "No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or casteism"
},
{
"id": "3",
"text": "No incitement of violence or promotion of violent ideologies"
},
{
"id": "4",
"text": "No harassment, dogpiling or doxxing of other users"
},
{
"id": "5",
"text": "No content illegal in Germany"
},
{
"id": "7",
"text": "Do not share intentionally false or misleading information"
}
]
}
```
---
## List of connected domains {#peers}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/peers HTTP/1.1
```
Domains that this instance is aware of.
**Returns:** Array of String\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
2.1.2 - added\
3.0.0 - requires user token if instance is in whitelist mode
#### Request
##### Headers
Authorization
: Provide this header with `Bearer <user_token>` to gain authorized access to this API method.
#### Response
##### 200: OK
```json
["tilde.zone","mspsocial.net",...,"conf.tube"]
```
##### 401: Unauthorized
If the instance is in whitelist mode and the Authorization header is missing or invalid
```json
{
"error": "This API requires an authenticated user"
}
```
---
## Weekly activity {#activity}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/activity HTTP/1.1
```
Instance activity over the last 3 months, binned weekly.
**Returns:** Array of Hash\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
2.1.2 - added\
3.0.0 - requires user token if instance is in whitelist mode
#### Request
##### Headers
Authorization
: Provide this header with `Bearer <user_token>` to gain authorized access to this API method.
#### Response
##### 200: OK
Each hash in the array will contain the following attributes:
week
: String (UNIX Timestamp). Midnight at the first day of the week.
statuses
: String (cast from an integer). The number of Statuses created since the week began.
logins
: String (cast from an integer). The number of user logins since the week began.
registrations
: String (cast from an integer). The number of user registrations since the week began.
```json
[
{
"week": "1574640000",
"statuses": "37125",
"logins": "14239",
"registrations": "542"
},
{
"week": "1574035200",
"statuses": "244447",
"logins": "28820",
"registrations": "4425"
},
{
"week": "1573430400",
"statuses": "270615",
"logins": "35388",
"registrations": "8781"
},
{
"week": "1572825600",
"statuses": "309722",
"logins": "44433",
"registrations": "26165"
},
{
"week": "1572220800",
"statuses": "116227",
"logins": "19739",
"registrations": "2926"
},
{
"week": "1571616000",
"statuses": "119932",
"logins": "19247",
"registrations": "3188"
},
{
"week": "1571011200",
"statuses": "117892",
"logins": "19164",
"registrations": "3107"
},
{
"week": "1570406400",
"statuses": "109092",
"logins": "18763",
"registrations": "2986"
},
{
"week": "1569801600",
"statuses": "107554",
"logins": "19614",
"registrations": "2904"
},
{
"week": "1569196800",
"statuses": "118067",
"logins": "19703",
"registrations": "3295"
},
{
"week": "1568592000",
"statuses": "110199",
"logins": "19791",
"registrations": "3026"
},
{
"week": "1567987200",
"statuses": "106029",
"logins": "19089",
"registrations": "2769"
}
]
```
##### 401: Unauthorized
If the instance is in whitelist mode and the Authorization header is missing or invalid
```json
{
"error": "This API requires an authenticated user"
}
```
---
## List of rules {#rules}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/rules HTTP/1.1
```
Rules that the users of this service should follow.
**Returns:** Array of [Rule]({{< relref "entities/rule" >}})\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
3.4.0 - added
#### Response
##### 200: OK
```json
[
{
"id": "1",
"text": "Sexually explicit or violent media must be marked as sensitive when posting"
},
{
"id": "2",
"text": "No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or casteism"
},
{
"id": "3",
"text": "No incitement of violence or promotion of violent ideologies"
},
{
"id": "4",
"text": "No harassment, dogpiling or doxxing of other users"
},
{
"id": "5",
"text": "No content illegal in Germany"
},
{
"id": "7",
"text": "Do not share intentionally false or misleading information"
}
]
```
---
## View moderated servers {#domain_blocks}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/domain_blocks HTTP/1.1
```
Obtain a list of domains that have been blocked.
**Returns:** Array of [DomainBlock]({{< relref "entities/DomainBlock" >}})\
**OAuth:** Public, or User token if limited to users\
**Version history:**\
4.0.0 - added
#### Request
##### Headers
Authorization
: Provide this header with `Bearer <user_token>` to gain authorized access to this API method.
#### Response
##### 200: OK
The complete list of domains blocked by this instance
```json
[
{
"domain": "birb.elfenban.de",
"digest": "5d2c6e02a0cced8fb05f32626437e3d23096480b47efbba659b6d9e80c85d280",
"severity": "suspend",
"comment": "Third-party bots"
},
{
"domain": "birdbots.leptonics.com",
"digest": "ce019d8d32cce8e369ac4367f4dc232103e6f489fbdd247fb99f9c8a646078a4",
"severity": "suspend",
"comment": "Third-party bots"
}
// ...
]
```
##### 401: Unauthorized
Invalid or missing Authorization header, if the admin has chosen to show domain blocks to users.
```json
{
"error": "The access token is invalid"
}
```
##### 404: Not found
The admin has chosen to show domain blocks to no one. The response body is empty; only the HTTP 404 error code is relevant.
```text
```
---
## View extended description {#extended_description}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/extended_description HTTP/1.1
```
Obtain an extended description of this server
**Returns:** [ExtendedDescription]({{< relref "entities/ExtendedDescription" >}})\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
4.0.0 - added
#### Response
##### 200: OK
```json
{
"updated_at": "2022-11-03T04:09:07Z",
"content": "<p>For inquiries not related specifically to the operation of this server, such as press inquiries, please contact <a href=\"mailto:press@joinmastodon.org\">press@joinmastodon.org</a>.</p>\n\n<h2>Funding</h2>\n\n<p>This server is crowdfunded by <a href=\"https://patreon.com/mastodon\">Patreon donations</a>. For a list of sponsors, see <a href=\"https://joinmastodon.org/sponsors\">joinmastodon.org</a>.</p>\n\n<h2>Reporting and moderation</h2>\n\n<p>When reporting accounts, please make sure to include at least a few posts that show rule-breaking behaviour, when applicable. If there is any additional context that might help make a decision, please also include it in the comment. This is especially important when the content is in a language nobody on the moderation team speaks.</p>\n\n<p>We usually handle reports within 24 hours. Please mind that you are not notified when a report you have made has led to a punitive action, and that not all punitive actions are externally visible. For first time offenses, we may opt to delete offending content, escalating to harsher measures on repeat offenses.</p>\n\n<h2>Impressum</h2>\n\n<p>Mastodon gGmbH<br>\nMühlenstraße 8a<br>\n14167 Berlin<br>\nGermany</p>\n\n<p>E-Mail-Adresse: hello@joinmastodon.org</p>\n\n<p>Vertretungsberechtigt: Eugen Rochko (Geschäftsführer)</p>\n\n<p>Umsatzsteuer Identifikationsnummer (USt-ID): DE344258260</p>\n\n<p>Handelsregister<br>\nGeführt bei: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg<br>\nNummer: HRB 230086 B</p>\n"
}
```
---
## View translation languages {#translation_languages}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance/translation_languages HTTP/1.1
```
Translation language pairs supported by the translation engine used by the server.
**Returns:** Object with source language codes as keys and arrays of target language codes as values.\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
4.2.0 - added
#### Response
##### 200: OK
All source and target language pairs supported by the server.
In the following sample response showing support for translating a status written in English (`en`) into German (`de`) or Spanish (`es`). The source language code `und` indicates that the server supports auto-detection the language of statuses with an empty `language` attribute and translating these into either British English (`en-GB`), German or Spanish.
```json
{
"en": ["de", "es"],
// [...]
"und": ["en-GB", "de", "es"]
}
```
---
## View server information (v1) {{%deprecated%}} {#v1}
```http
GET /api/v1/instance HTTP/1.1
```
Obtain general information about the server. See [api/v2/instance]({{< relref "methods/Instance#v2">}}) instead.
**Returns:** [V1::Instance]({{< relref "entities/V1_Instance" >}})\
**OAuth:** Public\
**Version history:**\
1.1.0 - added\
3.0.0 - requires user token if instance is in whitelist mode\
3.1.4 - added `invites_enabled` to response\
3.4.0 - added `rules`\
3.4.2 - added `configuration`\
4.0.0 - deprecated. added `configuration[accounts]`.
#### Response
##### 200: OK
```json
{
"uri": "mastodon.social",
"title": "Mastodon",
"short_description": "The original server operated by the Mastodon gGmbH non-profit",
"description": "",
"email": "staff@mastodon.social",
"version": "3.5.3",
"urls": {
"streaming_api": "wss://mastodon.social"
},
"stats": {
"user_count": 812303,
"status_count": 38151616,
"domain_count": 25255
},
"thumbnail": "https://files.mastodon.social/site_uploads/files/000/000/001/original/vlcsnap-2018-08-27-16h43m11s127.png",
"languages": ["en"],
"registrations": false,
"approval_required": false,
"invites_enabled": true,
"configuration": {
"statuses": {
"max_characters": 500,
"max_media_attachments": 4,
"characters_reserved_per_url": 23
},
"media_attachments": {
"supported_mime_types": [
"image/jpeg",
"image/png",
"image/gif",
"image/webp",
"video/webm",
"video/mp4",
"video/quicktime",
"video/ogg",
"audio/wave",
"audio/wav",
"audio/x-wav",
"audio/x-pn-wave",
"audio/vnd.wave",
"audio/ogg",
"audio/vorbis",
"audio/mpeg",
"audio/mp3",
"audio/webm",
"audio/flac",
"audio/aac",
"audio/m4a",
"audio/x-m4a",
"audio/mp4",
"audio/3gpp",
"video/x-ms-asf"
],
"image_size_limit": 10485760,
"image_matrix_limit": 16777216,
"video_size_limit": 41943040,
"video_frame_rate_limit": 60,
"video_matrix_limit": 2304000
},
"polls": {
"max_options": 4,
"max_characters_per_option": 50,
"min_expiration": 300,
"max_expiration": 2629746
}
},
"contact_account":{
"id":"1",
"username":"Gargron",
"acct":"Gargron",
"display_name":"Eugen",
"locked":false,
"bot":false,
"discoverable":true,
"group":false,
"created_at":"2016-03-16T00:00:00.000Z",
"note":"\u003cp\u003eFounder, CEO and lead developer \u003cspan class=\"h-card\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://mastodon.social/@Mastodon\" class=\"u-url mention\"\u003e@\u003cspan\u003eMastodon\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e, Germany.\u003c/p\u003e",
"url":"https://mastodon.social/@Gargron",
"avatar":"https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/dc4286ceb8fab734.jpg",
"avatar_static":"https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/000/001/original/dc4286ceb8fab734.jpg",
"header":"https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/headers/000/000/001/original/3b91c9965d00888b.jpeg",
"header_static":"https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/headers/000/000/001/original/3b91c9965d00888b.jpeg",
"followers_count":118944,
"following_count":305,
"statuses_count":72309,
"last_status_at":"2022-08-24",
"emojis":[
],
"fields":[
{
"name": "Patreon",
"value": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.patreon.com/mastodon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer me\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"invisible\"\u003ehttps://www.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003epatreon.com/mastodon\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"invisible\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e",
"verified_at": null
}
]
},
"rules": [
{
"id": "1",
"text": "Sexually explicit or violent media must be marked as sensitive when posting"
},
{
"id": "2",
"text": "No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, or casteism"
},
{
"id": "3",
"text": "No incitement of violence or promotion of violent ideologies"
},
{
"id": "4",
"text": "No harassment, dogpiling or doxxing of other users"
},
{
"id": "5",
"text": "No content illegal in Germany"
},
{
"id": "7",
"text": "Do not share intentionally false or misleading information"
}
]
}
```
---
## See also
{{< caption-link url="https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/blob/main/app/controllers/api/v1/instances_controller.rb" caption="app/controllers/api/v1/instances_controller.rb" >}}
{{< caption-link url="https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/blob/main/app/controllers/api/v1/instances/activity_controller.rb" caption="app/controllers/api/v1/instances/activity_controller.rb" >}}
{{< caption-link url="https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/blob/main/app/controllers/api/v1/instances/peers_controller.rb" caption="app/controllers/api/v1/instances/peers_controller.rb" >}}
{{< caption-link url="https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/blob/main/app/controllers/api/v1/instances/rules_controller.rb" caption="app/controllers/api/v1/instances/rules_controller.rb" >}}