name: openFDA Rate Limits
description: openFDA enforces rate limits to ensure fair access across all users. Limits differ between unauthenticated (no API key) and authenticated (with API key) requests.
url: https://open.fda.gov/apis/authentication/
tiers:
  - name: Unauthenticated
    description: Requests without an API key, throttled per IP address
    limits:
      - period: minute
        requests: 240
        scope: per IP address
      - period: day
        requests: 1000
        scope: per IP address
  - name: Authenticated
    description: Requests with a valid API key, throttled per key
    limits:
      - period: minute
        requests: 240
        scope: per API key
      - period: day
        requests: 120000
        scope: per API key
authentication:
  type: API Key
  methods:
    - name: Query Parameter
      description: Pass the API key as a query parameter named api_key
      example: "https://api.fda.gov/drug/event.json?api_key=yourAPIKeyHere&search=..."
    - name: Basic Authentication Header
      description: Pass the API key via HTTP Basic Authentication header
  registration: Free, requires agreement to terms of service
  contact: open@fda.hhs.gov
notes:
  - All queries must use HTTPS via https://api.fda.gov
  - Higher usage limits available by contacting open@fda.hhs.gov
  - Rate limits apply across all openFDA API endpoints collectively