REST API endpoints for followers

About follower administration

If a request URL does not include a {username} parameter then the response will be for the signed-in user (and you must pass authentication information with your request). Additional private information, such as whether a user has two-factor authentication enabled, is included when authenticated through OAuth with the user scope.

List followers of the authenticated user

Lists the people following the authenticated user.

Fine-grained access tokens for "List followers of the authenticated user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Followers" user permissions (read)

Parameters for "List followers of the authenticated user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `30`
`page` integer The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List followers of the authenticated user"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`304`	Not modified
`401`	Requires authentication
`403`	Forbidden

Code samples for "List followers of the authenticated user"

Request example

get/user/followers

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/user/followers

Response

Status: 200

[
  {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  }
]

List the people the authenticated user follows

Lists the people who the authenticated user follows.

Fine-grained access tokens for "List the people the authenticated user follows"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Followers" user permissions (read)

Parameters for "List the people the authenticated user follows"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `30`
`page` integer The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List the people the authenticated user follows"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`304`	Not modified
`401`	Requires authentication
`403`	Forbidden

Code samples for "List the people the authenticated user follows"

Request example

get/user/following

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/user/following

Response

Status: 200

[
  {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  }
]

Check if a person is followed by the authenticated user

Fine-grained access tokens for "Check if a person is followed by the authenticated user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Followers" user permissions (read)

Parameters for "Check if a person is followed by the authenticated user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.

HTTP response status codes for "Check if a person is followed by the authenticated user"

Status code	Description
`204`	if the person is followed by the authenticated user
`304`	Not modified
`401`	Requires authentication
`403`	Forbidden
`404`	if the person is not followed by the authenticated user

Code samples for "Check if a person is followed by the authenticated user"

Request example

get/user/following/{username}

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/user/following/USERNAME

if the person is followed by the authenticated user

Status: 204

Follow a user

Note that you'll need to set Content-Length to zero when calling out to this endpoint. For more information, see "HTTP verbs."

OAuth app tokens and personal access tokens (classic) need the user:follow scope to use this endpoint.

Fine-grained access tokens for "Follow a user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Followers" user permissions (write)

Parameters for "Follow a user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.

HTTP response status codes for "Follow a user"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content
`304`	Not modified
`401`	Requires authentication
`403`	Forbidden
`404`	Resource not found
`422`	Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.

Code samples for "Follow a user"

Request example

put/user/following/{username}

curl -L \
  -X PUT \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/user/following/USERNAME

Response

Status: 204

Unfollow a user

OAuth app tokens and personal access tokens (classic) need the user:follow scope to use this endpoint.

Fine-grained access tokens for "Unfollow a user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Followers" user permissions (write)

Parameters for "Unfollow a user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.

HTTP response status codes for "Unfollow a user"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content
`304`	Not modified
`401`	Requires authentication
`403`	Forbidden
`404`	Resource not found

Code samples for "Unfollow a user"

Request example

delete/user/following/{username}

curl -L \
  -X DELETE \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/user/following/USERNAME

Response

Status: 204

List followers of a user

Lists the people following the specified user.

Fine-grained access tokens for "List followers of a user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token does not require any permissions.

This endpoint can be used without authentication if only public resources are requested.

Parameters for "List followers of a user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `30`
`page` integer The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List followers of a user"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "List followers of a user"

Request example

get/users/{username}/followers

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/users/USERNAME/followers

Response

Status: 200

[
  {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  }
]

List the people a user follows

Lists the people who the specified user follows.

Fine-grained access tokens for "List the people a user follows"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token does not require any permissions.

This endpoint can be used without authentication if only public resources are requested.

Parameters for "List the people a user follows"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `30`
`page` integer The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List the people a user follows"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "List the people a user follows"

Request example

get/users/{username}/following

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/users/USERNAME/following

Response

Status: 200

[
  {
    "login": "octocat",
    "id": 1,
    "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
    "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
    "gravatar_id": "",
    "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
    "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
    "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
    "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
    "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
    "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
    "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
    "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
    "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
    "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
    "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
    "type": "User",
    "site_admin": false
  }
]

Check if a user follows another user

Fine-grained access tokens for "Check if a user follows another user"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token does not require any permissions.

This endpoint can be used without authentication if only public resources are requested.

Parameters for "Check if a user follows another user"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`username` string Required The handle for the GitHub user account.
`target_user` string Required

HTTP response status codes for "Check if a user follows another user"

Status code	Description
`204`	if the user follows the target user
`404`	if the user does not follow the target user

Code samples for "Check if a user follows another user"

Request example

get/users/{username}/following/{target_user}

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/users/USERNAME/following/TARGET_USER

if the user follows the target user

Status: 204