In addition to the fixed-format data files that have been available for many years, PDG provides an API (Application Programming Interface) with three tools to access PDG data in machine-readable format, namely:

• a REST API and data downloading from pdgLive via "JSON" buttons,
• a Python API, and
• downloadable PDG database files in SQLite format.

Please note:

• The Python API now requires at least Python 3.10. For details see requirements.
• Starting with the 2026 edition, the Python API has switched from semantic versioning (e.g. 0.2.3) to an edition-based versioning scheme where the first number indicates the edition of the Review of Particle Physics and the second number increments for each update for the same edition. Thus the initial release of the API for the 2026 edition is version 2026.0 while the first update will be version 2026.1

To provide feedback or report bugs, please contact api@pdg.lbl.gov.