TMDB offers two main versions of its API: v3 and v4

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TMDB API v3

The v3 API is the most widely used version of TMDB’s API. It provides access to a vast amount of data, including movies, TV shows, actors, images, videos, and user-generated content. The v3 API is RESTful and uses JSON as its data format.

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Key Features

  • Movie Data: Access details such as title, release date, runtime, genres, ratings, and more.
  • TV Show Data: Retrieve information about TV shows, including episodes, seasons, and cast.
  • People Data: Get details about actors, directors, and other crew members.
  • Search Functionality: Search for movies, TV shows, and people.
  • Images and Videos: Access posters, backdrops, trailers, and clips.
  • User Authentication: Supports user authentication for managing favorites, watchlists, and ratings.
  • Pagination: Supports pagination for large datasets.
  • Rate Limiting: API requests are rate-limited to ensure fair Usage

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Example Endpoint

Get Movie Details: 
GET https://api.themoviedb.org/3/movie/{movie_id}?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

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TMDB API v4

The v4 API is a newer version of TMDB’s API, designed to provide a more streamlined and secure experience. It introduces significant changes, including a new authentication method and improved security features. Unlike v3, v4 uses Bearer Token authentication instead of an API key.

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Key Features

  • Enhanced Security: Improved security measures to protect user data.
  • Backward Compatibility: Works alongside v3, allowing developers to transition gradually.
  • Limited Endpoints: As of now, v4 has fewer endpoints compared to v3, focusing primarily on authentication and user-related operations.

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Example Endpoint

Get Account Details: 
GET https://api.themoviedb.org/4/account?api_key=YOUR_BEARER_TOKEN
Requires a valid Bearer Token in the request header.

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Differences Between v3 and v4

Featurev3v4
SecurityStandardEnhanced
EndpointsExtensive (movies, TV, people)Limited (focus on authentication)
UsageBroad (data retrieval)Primarily for authentication
Backward CompatibilityNoYes (works alongside v3)

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Which Version Should You Use?

  • Use v3 if you need access to a wide range of data, such as movie details, TV show information, and search functionality. It is the most feature-rich and widely supported version.
  • Use v4 if you are focusing on user authentication or need enhanced security features. However, note that v4 currently has limited functionality compared to v3.

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