Looker API overview

Looker's API provides access to the vast majority of Looker functionality over a convenient JSON-oriented REST API. It includes a diversity of endpoints, from simple running of queries in a variety of formats, to managing users, content, schedules, instance configurations, and more.

The API can be used as a part of many use cases. Some examples include internal operational tools, highly custom customer-facing embedded analytics, mobile app integrations, specialized Looker administrative tools, and more.

Using the API

You can use the API either directly via HTTPS requests or through the convenience of a language-specific SDK.

In addition, the API provides for a few authentication modes, which may help inform your architectural choices. Backend services can authenticate with API credentials, can use the API with a service account, and can conveniently impersonate API requests on behalf of end users. Alternatively, frontend clients can leverage OAuth authentication (Authorization Code PKCE) , without the need to handle sensitive client secrets.

Here is a sample of the most common ways that the API is used end-to-end:

• Backend only
  • Authenticate with API credentials : Common for command-line scripts, administrative tasks, or sandbox environments
• Frontend and backend
  • Provide an application server with single service account and credentials, and make API calls through the service account
  • Provide an application server with single service account and credentials, but use Looker's sudo or login_as_user functionality to make calls on behalf of the end user
  • Authenticate with an application server, use sudo/login_as_user, send the resulting token back to the user, and make frontend API calls with Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS)
• Frontend only
  • Authenticate with OAuth , and make frontend API calls with CORS
  • Implicit authentication and invocation from within Looker extensions

Try it out

Want to see the API in action before writing any code? These demos can help:

• Atom Fashion is a demo data-driven web app (requires Google account to log in).
• Explore API endpoints and make sample API calls against your Looker instance using the API Explorer .