# Twitch Helix API

**Provider:** Twitch
**Category:** social
**Base URL:** `https://api.twitch.tv/helix`
**Auth:** bearer — `Authorization: Bearer APP_ACCESS_TOKEN
Client-ID: YOUR_CLIENT_ID`
**Rate Limit:** 800 requests/min (app access token)
**Free Tier:** Yes — [object Object]
**Pricing:** Free tier available (freemium)
**Docs:** https://dev.twitch.tv/docs/api/

## Description

The Twitch Helix API provides programmatic access to the Twitch platform. Retrieve live streams and stream metadata, get channel and user information, list top games and categories, fetch VODs and clips, manage channel point rewards, query Twitch subscriptions, and receive real-time events (stream live/offline, channel follows, subscriptions, raids) via the EventSub webhook system. Used for stream overlays, dashboards, chat bots, and analytics tools.

## Endpoints

| Method | Endpoint | Description |
|--------|----------|-------------|
| GET | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/streams` | Get live streams with filtering by game/user/language |
| GET | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/channels` | Get channel information by broadcaster ID |
| GET | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/users` | Get user info by login name or ID |
| GET | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/videos` | Get VODs for a user or game |
| GET | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/clips` | Get clips created for a broadcaster |
| POST | `https://api.twitch.tv/helix/eventsub/subscriptions` | Subscribe to EventSub events (stream.online, channel.follow, etc.) |

## Authentication

Use OAuth2 Client Credentials flow to get an app access token, or Authorization Code flow for user-scoped actions. Pass the token as Bearer. Also requires the Client-ID header.

```
Authorization: Bearer APP_ACCESS_TOKEN
Client-ID: YOUR_CLIENT_ID
```

## Sample Request

```bash
# First get an app access token, then:
curl "https://api.twitch.tv/helix/streams?game_id=509658&first=5" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TWITCH_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Client-ID: $TWITCH_CLIENT_ID"
```

## Sample Response

```json
{
  "data": [{
    "id": "40627613557",
    "user_name": "shroud",
    "game_name": "Just Chatting",
    "title": "Chill stream",
    "viewer_count": 28541,
    "started_at": "2024-03-15T09:00:00Z",
    "language": "en",
    "thumbnail_url": "https://static-cdn.jtvnw.net/previews-ttv/live_user_shroud-{width}x{height}.jpg"
  }]
}
```

## Pricing Details

The Twitch API is free for developers. Register your app at dev.twitch.tv to get a client ID. Rate limits apply per account tier.

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*Source: [API Map](https://apimap.dev/apis/twitch/) — CC BY 4.0*