VIAF API
Provides access to the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF), linking name authority records from national libraries and agencies worldwide into unified clusters. Supports search, autocomplete suggestions, and retrieval by VIAF identifier, Library of Congress Control Number, or source-specific IDs.
Slug: viaf
Key:
Base URL:
Auth: none
Endpoints: 5
Reachable: unknown
CORS: unknown
Tier: verified
Key:
viaf.org:viaf-apiBase URL:
https://viaf.org/Auth: none
Endpoints: 5
Reachable: unknown
CORS: unknown
Tier: verified
Links
Topics
Tutorials
- Getting Started with VIAF — I can look up authority records for people, organizations, and works in the Virtual International Authority File — resolving names to stable IDs with cross-references across 30+ national libraries — in a single unauthenticated GET, but the JSON output uses verbose namespace-prefixed keys and the default format is XML.
Skills
- Look up viaf authority records — I can look up authority records for people, organizations, and works in VIAF — resolving names to stable IDs with cross-references across 30+ national libraries — in a single unauthenticated GET, but the JSON uses namespace-prefixed keys and the default format is XML.
- Search viaf authority records — I can search VIAF for authority records by name — disambiguating people, organizations, and works across 30+ national libraries in a single unauthenticated GET — but VIAF returns identity metadata, not full-text documents.
Endpoints (5)
| Path | Summary | Response | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|
| viaf/AutoSuggest | Auto-suggest authority clusters | application/json |
— |
| viaf/lccn/{lccn} | Translate LCCN to VIAF URI | ? |
— |
| viaf/search | Search VIAF authority data | text/plain |
— |
| viaf/sourceID/{sourceId} | Get VIAF URI by source ID | ? |
— |
| viaf/{viafID} | Get authority cluster by VIAF ID | application/json |
— |