The official Unicode Emoji 17.0 test file, which defines what keyboards show, merged with GitHub's MIT-licensed gemoji dataset for shortcodes and keywords.

What does an emoji record include?

The character, name, group and subgroup, codepoint sequence, the Unicode version it debuted in, GitHub-style shortcodes and search keywords.

Are skin-tone variants included?

Yes. 1,914 base emoji plus 2,030 skin-tone variants, flagged and linked to their base, so a picker can show one entry with modifiers.

By name, keyword or shortcode, optionally within a group, with a random endpoint for sampling.

What does a call cost?

1 token. The free plan covers 500 lookups a month.

ToolsMAINTAINED1 token / call

Emoji API

All 3,944 Unicode 17.0 emoji with names, groups, codepoints, shortcodes and keywords, searchable

Every emoji in Unicode, fully described and searchable. All 3,944 fully-qualified emoji from the official Unicode Emoji 17.0 data (the same file that defines what your keyboard shows), each with its name, group and subgroup ('Smileys & Emotion' → 'face-smiling'), codepoint sequence, the Unicode emoji version it debuted in, GitHub-style :shortcodes: and search keywords from the MIT-licensed gemoji dataset — 1,870 emoji carry shortcodes like :thumbsup: and :rocket:. The 2,030 skin-tone variants are flagged and linked to their base emoji, so pickers can show the 1,914 base emoji and expand tones on demand (country flags, keycaps and family sequences are correctly kept as base emoji). Search by name, shortcode or keyword; look any emoji up by the character itself, a :shortcode:, its exact name or its codepoints (1F468-200D-1F4BB resolves to 👨‍💻 man technologist); browse the full CLDR group/subgroup taxonomy with counts; or grab a random one. Build emoji pickers, chat apps, :shortcode: replacement, reaction systems and content tooling without shipping a 500 KB emoji JSON to every client.

Every call needs an X-Api-Key header. A free key includes 500 tokens a month, no card required. 1 token per call, so the free plan covers about 500 calls a month.

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response.json

{
  "ok": true,
  "emoji": {
    "emoji": "👍",
    "name": "thumbs up",
    "group": "People & Body",
    "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
    "codepoints": "1F44D",
    "emoji_version": "E0.6",
    "is_variant": false,
    "base_emoji": null,
    "shortcodes": [
      ":+1:",
      ":thumbsup:"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "approve",
      "ok"
    ]
  },
  "variants": [
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏻",
      "name": "thumbs up: light skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FB",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏼",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium-light skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FC",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏽",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FD",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏾",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium-dark skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FE",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏿",
      "name": "thumbs up: dark skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FF",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    }
  ]
}

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Use cases for Emoji API

Build an emoji picker with search by name, keyword or :shortcode:.
Convert :shortcodes: in messages to characters and back.
Group emoji by category and subgroup the way keyboards do.
Check which Unicode version introduced an emoji before relying on it.

Emoji API endpoints

Every endpoint with its parameters and a real example response.

OpenAPI definition Postman workspace

GETData Sources
GETEmoji Groups
GETEmoji Lookup
GETRandom Emoji
GETSearch Emoji

GETData Sources

https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/sources

This endpoint takes no parameters.

Example request

curl "https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/sources" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "sources": [
    {
      "slug": "gemoji",
      "name": "GitHub gemoji shortcodes & tags",
      "publisher": "GitHub",
      "licence": "MIT",
      "source_url": "https://github.com/github/gemoji",
      "file_url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/gemoji/master/db/emoji.json",
      "cadence": "occasional",
      "record_count": 1870,
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-06"
    },
    {
      "slug": "unicode-emoji",
      "name": "Unicode emoji-test (latest)",
      "publisher": "Unicode Consortium",
      "licence": "Unicode License v3",
      "source_url": "https://unicode.org/emoji/",
      "file_url": "https://unicode.org/Public/emoji/latest/emoji-test.txt",
      "cadence": "annual (new Unicode emoji versions)",
      "record_count": 3944,
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-06"
    }
  ]
}

GETEmoji Groups

https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/groups

This endpoint takes no parameters.

Example request

curl "https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/groups" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "groups": 9,
  "results": [
    {
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "total": 171,
      "base": 171,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "face-smiling",
          "total": 14,
          "base": 14
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-affection",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-tongue",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-hand",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "groups": 9,
  "results": [
    {
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "total": 171,
      "base": 171,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "face-smiling",
          "total": 14,
          "base": 14
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-affection",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-tongue",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-hand",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-neutral-skeptical",
          "total": 16,
          "base": 16
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-sleepy",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-unwell",
          "total": 12,
          "base": 12
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-hat",
          "total": 3,
          "base": 3
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-glasses",
          "total": 3,
          "base": 3
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-concerned",
          "total": 27,
          "base": 27
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-negative",
          "total": 8,
          "base": 8
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "face-costume",
          "total": 8,
          "base": 8
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "cat-face",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "monkey-face",
          "total": 3,
          "base": 3
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "heart",
          "total": 25,
          "base": 25
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "emotion",
          "total": 15,
          "base": 15
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "People & Body",
      "total": 2418,
      "base": 388,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "hand-fingers-open",
          "total": 66,
          "base": 11
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hand-fingers-partial",
          "total": 54,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hand-single-finger",
          "total": 42,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
          "total": 36,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hands",
          "total": 62,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hand-prop",
          "total": 18,
          "base": 3
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "body-parts",
          "total": 48,
          "base": 18
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person",
          "total": 168,
          "base": 28
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-gesture",
          "total": 180,
          "base": 30
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-role",
          "total": 492,
          "base": 82
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-fantasy",
          "total": 158,
          "base": 33
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-activity",
          "total": 408,
          "base": 58
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-sport",
          "total": 308,
          "base": 43
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-resting",
          "total": 30,
          "base": 5
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "family",
          "total": 337,
          "base": 37
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "person-symbol",
          "total": 11,
          "base": 11
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Animals & Nature",
      "total": 160,
      "base": 160,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-mammal",
          "total": 66,
          "base": 66
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-bird",
          "total": 22,
          "base": 22
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-amphibian",
          "total": 1,
          "base": 1
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-reptile",
          "total": 8,
          "base": 8
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-marine",
          "total": 18,
          "base": 18
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "animal-bug",
          "total": 16,
          "base": 16
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "plant-flower",
          "total": 12,
          "base": 12
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "plant-other",
          "total": 17,
          "base": 17
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Food & Drink",
      "total": 131,
      "base": 131,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "food-fruit",
          "total": 20,
          "base": 20
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "food-vegetable",
          "total": 19,
          "base": 19
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "food-prepared",
          "total": 34,
          "base": 34
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "food-asian",
          "total": 17,
          "base": 17
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "food-sweet",
          "total": 14,
          "base": 14
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "drink",
          "total": 20,
          "base": 20
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "dishware",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Travel & Places",
      "total": 219,
      "base": 219,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "place-map",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "place-geographic",
          "total": 10,
          "base": 10
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "place-building",
          "total": 27,
          "base": 27
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "place-religious",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "place-other",
          "total": 17,
          "base": 17
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "transport-ground",
          "total": 50,
          "base": 50
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "transport-water",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "transport-air",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "hotel",
          "total": 2,
          "base": 2
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "time",
          "total": 31,
          "base": 31
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "sky & weather",
          "total": 47,
          "base": 47
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Activities",
      "total": 85,
      "base": 85,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "event",
          "total": 21,
          "base": 21
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "award-medal",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "sport",
          "total": 27,
          "base": 27
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "game",
          "total": 24,
          "base": 24
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "arts & crafts",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Objects",
      "total": 266,
      "base": 266,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "clothing",
          "total": 47,
          "base": 47
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "sound",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "music",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "musical-instrument",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "phone",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "computer",
          "total": 14,
          "base": 14
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "light & video",
          "total": 16,
          "base": 16
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "book-paper",
          "total": 17,
          "base": 17
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "money",
          "total": 11,
          "base": 11
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "mail",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "writing",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "office",
          "total": 23,
          "base": 23
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "lock",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "tool",
          "total": 27,
          "base": 27
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "science",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "medical",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "household",
          "total": 25,
          "base": 25
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "other-object",
          "total": 9,
          "base": 9
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Symbols",
      "total": 224,
      "base": 224,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "transport-sign",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "warning",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "arrow",
          "total": 21,
          "base": 21
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "religion",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "zodiac",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "av-symbol",
          "total": 25,
          "base": 25
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "gender",
          "total": 3,
          "base": 3
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "math",
          "total": 6,
          "base": 6
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "punctuation",
          "total": 7,
          "base": 7
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "currency",
          "total": 2,
          "base": 2
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "other-symbol",
          "total": 22,
          "base": 22
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "keycap",
          "total": 13,
          "base": 13
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "alphanum",
          "total": 39,
          "base": 39
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "geometric",
          "total": 34,
          "base": 34
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "group": "Flags",
      "total": 270,
      "base": 270,
      "subgroups": [
        {
          "subgroup": "flag",
          "total": 8,
          "base": 8
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "country-flag",
          "total": 259,
          "base": 259
        },
        {
          "subgroup": "subdivision-flag",
          "total": 3,
          "base": 3
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

GETEmoji Lookup

https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/{key}

Path parameters

Parameter	Example
key	thumbsup	Required

Example request

curl "https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/thumbsup" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "emoji": {
    "emoji": "👍",
    "name": "thumbs up",
    "group": "People & Body",
    "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
    "codepoints": "1F44D",
    "emoji_version": "E0.6",
    "is_variant": false,
    "base_emoji": null,
    "shortcodes": [
      ":+1:",
      ":thumbsup:"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "approve",
      "ok"
    ]
  },
  "variants": [
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏻",
      "name": "thumbs up: light skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FB",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "emoji": {
    "emoji": "👍",
    "name": "thumbs up",
    "group": "People & Body",
    "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
    "codepoints": "1F44D",
    "emoji_version": "E0.6",
    "is_variant": false,
    "base_emoji": null,
    "shortcodes": [
      ":+1:",
      ":thumbsup:"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "approve",
      "ok"
    ]
  },
  "variants": [
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏻",
      "name": "thumbs up: light skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FB",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏼",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium-light skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FC",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏽",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FD",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏾",
      "name": "thumbs up: medium-dark skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FE",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "👍🏿",
      "name": "thumbs up: dark skin tone",
      "group": "People & Body",
      "subgroup": "hand-fingers-closed",
      "codepoints": "1F44D 1F3FF",
      "emoji_version": "E1.0",
      "is_variant": true,
      "base_emoji": "👍",
      "shortcodes": [],
      "keywords": []
    }
  ]
}

GETRandom Emoji

https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/random

Query parameters

Parameter	Example
group	Animals & Nature	Optional

Example request

curl "https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji/random?group=Animals%20%26%20Nature" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "emoji": {
    "emoji": "🐻",
    "name": "bear",
    "group": "Animals & Nature",
    "subgroup": "animal-mammal",
    "codepoints": "1F43B",
    "emoji_version": "E0.6",
    "is_variant": false,
    "base_emoji": null,
    "shortcodes": [
      ":bear:"
    ],
    "keywords": []
  }
}

GETSearch Emoji

https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji

Query parameters

Parameter	Example
group		Optional
include_variants	true	Optional
limit	25	Optional
page	1	Optional
q	heart	Optional
subgroup		Optional
version		Optional

Example request

curl "https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/emoji?include_variants=true&limit=25&page=1&q=heart" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "page": 1,
  "limit": 5,
  "total": 35,
  "total_pages": 7,
  "emoji": [
    {
      "emoji": "🥰",
      "name": "smiling face with hearts",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "face-affection",
      "codepoints": "1F970",
      "emoji_version": "E11.0",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":smiling_face_with_three_hearts:"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "love"
      ]
    },
    {
      "emoji": "😍",
      "name": "smiling face with heart-eyes",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "face-affection",
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "page": 1,
  "limit": 5,
  "total": 35,
  "total_pages": 7,
  "emoji": [
    {
      "emoji": "🥰",
      "name": "smiling face with hearts",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "face-affection",
      "codepoints": "1F970",
      "emoji_version": "E11.0",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":smiling_face_with_three_hearts:"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "love"
      ]
    },
    {
      "emoji": "😍",
      "name": "smiling face with heart-eyes",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "face-affection",
      "codepoints": "1F60D",
      "emoji_version": "E0.6",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":heart_eyes:"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "love",
        "crush"
      ]
    },
    {
      "emoji": "😘",
      "name": "face blowing a kiss",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "face-affection",
      "codepoints": "1F618",
      "emoji_version": "E0.6",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":kissing_heart:"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "flirt"
      ]
    },
    {
      "emoji": "😻",
      "name": "smiling cat with heart-eyes",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "cat-face",
      "codepoints": "1F63B",
      "emoji_version": "E0.6",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":heart_eyes_cat:"
      ],
      "keywords": []
    },
    {
      "emoji": "💘",
      "name": "heart with arrow",
      "group": "Smileys & Emotion",
      "subgroup": "heart",
      "codepoints": "1F498",
      "emoji_version": "E0.6",
      "is_variant": false,
      "base_emoji": null,
      "shortcodes": [
        ":cupid:"
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "love",
        "heart"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Where the data comes from

Source: Unicode Emoji 17.0 data merged with the gemoji dataset (MIT).
Freshness: Updated with each Unicode emoji release.

One install. Every endpoint.

No proprietary SDKs needed. Any HTTP client works. Pick your language and paste.

3languages

5endpoints

RESTarchitecture

1key for all APIs

Fully typed responses — auto-completion in your IDE
Tracks the API in lockstep — new endpoints land same day
One key works across 125+ APIs on the platform

import axios from 'axios';

const { data } = await axios.get(
  'https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/sources',
  { headers: { 'X-Api-Key': process.env.API_KEY } }
);

Emoji API · X-Api-Key

Explore the endpoints

Browse request parameters and inspect live example responses.

Available Endpoints

Request Parameters

API URL

Headers

X-Api-Key

Target:

Client:

import axios from 'axios';

const url = 'https://api-emoji.dataandapis.com/v1/sources';
const { data } = await axios.get(url, {
  headers: { 'X-Api-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' }
});