HTTP API

Detailed technical description of the RudderStack HTTP API for sending your event data from your sources to the specified destinations.

We recommend using the RudderStack SDKs for tracking and routing user events from your sources. The SDKs also offer automatic tagging of user context, event batching, and a retry functionality during delivery failure.

RudderStack offers an easy-to-use HTTP API that you can use to send your events if you cannot use the SDKs.

The RudderStack HTTP API is fully Segment-compatible.

This document details various aspects of the HTTP API.

1. Prerequisites

The following prerequisites must be met to send events via the HTTP API:

• The RudderStack HTTP server must be accessible from your HTTP client. Refer to this guide to install and set up RudderStack in your preferred environment.

• Set up a source and destination in RudderStack by following the steps from Adding a Source and Adding a Destination guides.

• Import the Postman collection using using this URL and edit the variables source_write_key and data_plane_urlwith the source write key and the Data Plane URL.

If you are using RudderStack Cloud, set the Data Plane URL to https://hosted.rudderlabs.com.

2. API Authorization

RudderStack uses Basic Authentication for authenticating all the HTTP requests.

All the popular HTTP clients (e.g. CURL, Postman, HTTPie) have default support for Basic Authentication.

The Basic Authentication for this API requires a username and password where:

• The username is the source write key

• The password is an empty string ("")

For example, if the source write key is 1Xk5DChfJAol3xtW7qNnK1apo5p, your HTTP request must have the following HTTP header Authorization: Basic MVhrNURDaGZKQW9sM3h0VzdxTm5LMWFwbzVwOg==

You can use this Basic Authentication Header Generator to generate the HTTP header.

Important: To send the events via the RudderStack HTTP API, the Content-Type header must be set to application/json.

3. HTTP Responses

• The HTTP API returns a 200 response for successful API requests.

• The API returns a 400 response for invalid requests with an appropriate error message in the response. Some possible invalid requests include:

  • Request size too large

  • Invalid JSON

  • Missing Authorization Header

  • Invalid Authorization Header

In case of the Invalid Authorization Header error, verify if the source write key and the Basic Auth Header is valid.

4. Maximum Allowed Request Size

RudderStack allows messages with a maximum size of 32 KB per call. The batch endpoint accepts a maximum call size of 4 MB per batch, and 32 KB per call. RudderStack responds with a 400 Bad Request if these limits are exceeded.

5. Identify

The identify call lets you associate a visiting user to their actions and record any associated traits.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/identify

5.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "identified user id",
  "anonymousId":"anon-id-new",
  "context": {
    "traits": {
       "trait1": "new-val"  
    },
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
}

5.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/identify \
-d @identify.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/identify < identify.json

5.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
anonymousId	String	Optional	Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either userId or anonymousId is required.
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z
traits	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the traits associated with the user, such as nameor email

For more details on the identify call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

6. Track

The track call lets you record the customer events, i.e. the actions that they perform, along with any properties associated with them.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/track

6.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "identified user id",
  "anonymousId":"anon-id-new",
  "event": "Product Purchased new",
  "properties": {
    "name": "Shirt",
    "revenue": 4.99
  },
  "context": {
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
}

6.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/track \
-d @track.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/track < track.json

6.3. Accepted fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
anonymousId	String	Optional	Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either userId or anonymousId is required.
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
event	String	Required	Name of the event being performed by the user
properties	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the properties associated with a particular event.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z

For more details on the track call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

7. Page

The page call lets you record your website's page views with any additional relevant information about the viewed page.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/page

7.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "identified user id",
  "anonymousId":"anon-id-new",
  "name": "Page View",
  "properties": {
    "title": "Home",
    "path": "/"
  },
  "context": {
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
}

7.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/page \
-d @page.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <your_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/page < page.json

7.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
anonymousId	String	Optional	Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either userId or anonymousId is required.
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
name	String	Required	Name of the page being viewed.
properties	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the properties associated with the page being viewed, such as url and referrer
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z

For more details on the page call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

8. Screen

The screen call lets you record whenever your user views their mobile screen with any additional relevant information about the screen.

The screen call is the mobile equivalent of the page call.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/screen

8.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "identified user id",
  "anonymousId":"anon-id-new",
  "name": "Screen View",
  "properties": {
    "prop1": "5"
  },
  "context": {
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
}

8.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/screen \
-d @screen.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/screen < screen.json

8.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
anonymousId	String	Optional	Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either userId or anonymousId is required.
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
name	String	Required	Name of the screen being viewed.
properties	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the properties associated with the page being viewed, such as url and referrer
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z

For more details on the screen call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

9. Group

The group call lets you link an identified user with a group such as a company, organization, or an account. It also lets you record any custom traits associated with that group, like the name of the company, the number of employees, etc.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/group

9.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "user123",
  "groupId": "group1",
  "traits": {
    "name": "Company",
    "industry": "Industry",
    "employees": 123
  },
  "context": {
    "traits": {
       "trait1": "new-val"  
    },
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-01-21T00:21:34.208Z"
}

9.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/group \
-d @group.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/group < group.json

9.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
anonymousId	String	Optional	Sets the user ID for cases where there is no unique identifier for the user. Either userId or anonymousId is required.
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
groupId	String	Required	Unique identifier of the group, as present in your database.
traits	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the properties or traits associated with the group, such as email or name.
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z

For more details on the group call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

10. Alias

The alias call lets you merge different identities of a known user.

alias is an advanced method that lets you change the tracked user's ID explicitly. This method is useful when managing identities for some of the downstream destinations.

The following destinations support the alias call:

• MoEngage

• Kissmetrics

• Amplitude (only supported by the JavaScript SDK via Cloud Mode)

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/alias

10.1. Sample Payload

{
  "userId": "user123",
  "previousId": "previd1",
  "context": {
    "traits": {
       "trait1": "new-val"  
    },
    "ip": "14.5.67.21",
    "library": {
        "name": "http"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2020-01-21T00:21:34.208Z"
}

10.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/alias \
-d @alias.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/alias < alias.json

10.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
userId	String	Required, if anonymousId is not present.	Unique identifier for a particular user in your database.
context	Object	Optional	Dictionary of information that provides context about a message. However, it is not directly related to the API call.
integrations	Object	Optional	A dictionary containing the destinations to be either enabled or disabled.
previousId	String	Required	The previous unique identifier of the user.
traits	Object	Optional	Dictionary of the properties or traits associated with the group, such as email or name.
timestamp	DateTime	Optional	The timestamp of the message's arrival. If you are passing the timestamp in the event, make sure it conforms to the ISO 8601 date format yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.SSSZ. For example: 2022-02-01T19:14:18.381Z

For more details on the alias call, refer to the RudderStack Events Specification.

11. Batch

The batch call allows you to send a series of identify, track, page, group and screen requests in a single batch. This call helps you minimize the number of outbound requests, thus enabling better performance.

As mentioned earlier, RudderStack sets a maximum limit of 4 MB per batch request and 32 KB per call.

• Request Type: POST

• Request Format**:**

<DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/batch

11.1. Sample Payload

{
    "batch": [{
            "userId": "identified user id",
            "anonymousId": "anon-id-new",
            "type": "identify",
            "context": {
                "traits": {
                    "trait1": "new-val"
                },
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
        },
        {
            "userId": "identified user id",
            "anonymousId": "anon-id-new",
            "event": "Product Purchased new",
            "type": "track",
            "properties": {
                "name": "Shirt",
                "revenue": 4.99
            },
            "context": {
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
        },
        {
            "userId": "identified user id",
            "anonymousId": "anon-id-new",
            "name": "Page View",
            "type": "page",
            "properties": {
                "title": "Home",
                "path": "/"
            },
            "context": {
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
        },
        {
            "userId": "identified user id",
            "anonymousId": "anon-id-new",
            "name": "Screen View",
            "type": "screen",
            "properties": {
                "prop1": "5"
            },
            "context": {
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-02-02T00:23:09.544Z"
        },
        {
            "userId": "user123",
            "type": "group",
            "groupId": "group1",
            "traits": {
                "name": "Company",
                "industry": "Industry",
                "employees": 123
            },
            "context": {
                "traits": {
                    "trait1": "new-val"
                },
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-01-21T00:21:34.208Z"
        },
        {
            "userId": "user123",
            "previousId": "previd1",
            "type":"alias",
            "context": {
                "traits": {
                    "trait1": "new-val"
                },
                "ip": "14.5.67.21",
                "library": {
                    "name": "http"
                }
            },
            "timestamp": "2020-01-21T00:21:34.208Z"
        }

    ]
}

11.2. Usage

CURL HTTPie

curl -u <source_write_key>: -X POST <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/batch \
-d @batch.json \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" 

http -a <source_write_key>: <DATA_PLANE_URL>/v1/batch < batch.json

11.3. Accepted Fields

Field	Type	Presence	Description
batch	Array	Required	An array of identify, track, page, group and screen calls. Each call must have a type property and a valid method name.

12. Historical Imports

RudderStack lets you import any historical data by simply adding the timestamp argument to any of your API calls. However, this can be done only for the destinations that accept historical time-stamped data, like Amplitude, Mixpanel, etc.

If you are tracking current events, leave out the timestamp field. RudderStack will automatically add the timestamps to the event requests.

Contact Us

For more information on the HTTP API, you can contact us or start a conversation in our Slack community.