> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sirjosh.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# V3 vs V4

>  This page contans detailed explanation of each version, their features, and the differences between them.

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

## 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.

### 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

### Example Endpoint

Get Movie Details:

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

## 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.

### 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.

### Example Endpoint

Get Account Details:

```
GET https://api.themoviedb.org/4/account?api_key=YOUR_BEARER_TOKEN
```

<Note>Requires a valid Bearer Token in the request header.</Note>

## Differences Between v3 and v4

| Feature                | v3                             | v4                                |
| :--------------------- | :----------------------------- | :-------------------------------- |
| Security               | Standard                       | Enhanced                          |
| Endpoints              | Extensive (movies, TV, people) | Limited (focus on authentication) |
| Usage                  | Broad (data retrieval)         | Primarily for authentication      |
| Backward Compatibility | No                             | Yes (works alongside v3)          |

## 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.

## Resources

* v3 API Documentation: [https://developers.themoviedb.org/3](https://developers.themoviedb.org/3)

* v4 API Documentation: [https://developers.themoviedb.org/4](https://developers.themoviedb.org/4)

* API Support Forum: [https://www.themoviedb.org/talk](https://www.themoviedb.org/talk)