published

Picsum Photos API

The Picsum Photos API offers developers free access to random and customizable placeholder images, optimizing workflows in prototyping and design.

Developed by Picsum

Live API
99.90%Uptime
150msLatency
2.4kStars
No AuthAuth
NoCredit Card
RESTStyle
1.0Version
API Endpoints

Reference for available routes, request structures, and live examples.

Get random placeholder images with specified dimensions

Full Endpoint URL
https://picsum.photos/{width}/{height}
Implementation Example
curl -X GET 'https://picsum.photos/{width}/{height}'
Request Payload
{
  "width": "800",
  "height": "600"
}
Expected Response
"Image binary data"
Version:v2
Limit:Unlimited
Real-World Applications
  • Generating placeholder images for web and mobile app prototypesOptimized Capability
  • UI/UX testing for design mockupsOptimized Capability
  • Creating sample visuals for eCommerce platforms and dashboardsOptimized Capability
  • Integrating dynamic placeholder images into blogs and CMSOptimized Capability
  • Rapid prototyping of image-based UI componentsOptimized Capability
Advantages
  • ✓ No authentication or API key required
  • ✓ High availability with global CDN for fast image delivery
  • ✓ Simple, intuitive RESTful API interface
  • ✓ Supports image customization including size, grayscale, and blur
  • ✓ Provides both image and JSON metadata endpoints
Limitations
  • ✗ Limited to placeholder images, not for production photo content
  • ✗ No advanced filtering or search capabilities for images
  • ✗ Rate limited at 1000 requests per minute which may restrict very high-volume apps
  • ✗ No official SDKs available currently
  • ✗ No support for other image formats beyond JPEG

FAQs

API Specifications

1.0
Pricing Model
Free with fair use limitations
Credit Card
Not Required
Response Formats
JPEG, JSON
Supported Languages
7 Languages
SDK Support
REST Only
Time to Hello World

Less than 1 minute - no signup or authentication needed

Rate Limit

1000 requests per minute

Free Tier Usage

Unlimited free usage for non-commercial and development purposes under fair use policy; up to 1000 requests per minute

Use Case: Best For

Developers needing easy, customizable placeholder images for prototyping and UI testing

Not Recommended For

Production environments requiring licensed or unique images, high-volume commercial image hosting

Resources

Documentation Official Website Pricing Details Postman Collection
#placeholders#design#images

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