Developer API Documentation

Generate and download high-precision ISBN barcodes directly through simple URL query parameters. No SDK or complex rendering libraries are needed—ideal for automated publishing pipelines, batch book exports, inventory management systems, and direct website buttons.

<!-- Direct one-click ISBN barcode download -->
<a 
  href="https://isbnbarcode.org/?generate=9781612681122&download" 
  class="button"
  download
>
  Download ISBN Barcode (PNG)
</a>

We provide free, unrestricted access to the complete ISBN prefix ranges database sourced directly from the official International ISBN Agency. This dataset is required to validate ISBN-13 checksums and divide ISBN numbers into their five international components:Prefix Element (978/979),Registration Group,Registrant Publisher,Publication Element, andCheck Digit.

[
  {
    "p": "978-0",
    "a": "English language",
    "r": [
      ["0000000", "1999999", 2],
      ["2000000", "2279999", 3],
      ["2280000", "2289999", 4],
      ["9500000", "9999999", 7]
    ]
  }
]

// Fetch complete ISBN ranges dataset (~244 KB)
fetch('https://isbnbarcode.org/api/isbn-ranges.json')
  .then(response => response.json())
  .then(data => {
    // Process full ISBN ranges data
    console.log('Loaded ranges:', data);
  })
  .catch(error => console.error('Error fetching ISBN ranges:', error));

// Fetch lightweight compact dataset (~55 KB) for client apps & edge workers
async function getISBNPrefixGroup(isbn13) {
  const cleanIsbn = isbn13.replace(/[^0-9]/g, '');
  const res = await fetch('https://isbnbarcode.org/api/isbn-ranges-compact.json');
  const ranges = await res.json();

  for (const group of ranges) {
    const rawPrefix = group.p.replace('-', '');
    if (cleanIsbn.startsWith(rawPrefix)) {
      return {
        prefixKey: group.p,
        agencyName: group.a,
        rules: group.r // [start, end, length]
      };
    }
  }
  return null;
}

# Download optimized compact ranges dataset directly
curl -s -O https://isbnbarcode.org/api/isbn-ranges-compact.json

Our API and datasets are designed to empower publishers, indie authors, and software engineers with open access to publishing standards: