# API Usage
The examples below use Javascript, but you can use any programming language. [Language bindings](#language-bindings) for many programming languages are also available.
### Simple Translation {#simple-translation}
Request:
```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://libretranslate.com/translate", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
q: "Hello!",
source: "en",
target: "es",
api_key: "xxxxxx" // can be optional with self-hosting
}),
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
console.log(await res.json());
```
Response:
```javascript
{
"translatedText": "¡Hola!"
}
```
> [!NOTE]
> The `api_key` parameter is only required when using an instance configured with API keys, such as [libretranslate.com](https://libretranslate.com). Self-hosted instances do not require it.
### Auto Detection of Source Language {#auto-detection-of-source-language}
Request:
```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://libretranslate.com/translate", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
q: "Bonjour!",
source: "auto",
target: "en",
api_key: "xxxxxx"
}),
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
console.log(await res.json());
```
Response:
```javascript
{
"detectedLanguage": {
"confidence": 90.0,
"language": "fr"
},
"translatedText": "Hello!"
}
```
### Translate HTML/Markup {#translate-htmlmarkup}
Request:
```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://libretranslate.com/translate", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
q: 'Hello!
',
source: "en",
target: "es",
format: "html",
api_key: "xxxxxx"
}),
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
console.log(await res.json());
```
Response:
```javascript
{
"translatedText": "¡Hola!
"
}
```
### Alternative Translations {#alternative-translations}
Request:
```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://libretranslate.com/translate", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
q: "Hello",
source: "en",
target: "it",
format: "text",
alternatives: 3,
api_key: "xxxxxx"
}),
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
console.log(await res.json());
```
Response:
```javascript
{
"alternatives": [
"Salve",
"Pronto"
],
"translatedText": "Ciao"
}
```
### Language Detection {#language-detection}
Request:
```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://libretranslate.com/detect", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({
q: "Bonjour!",
}),
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
console.log(await res.json());
```
Response:
```javascript
[{
"confidence": 90.0,
"language": "fr"
}]
```
### Supported Languages {#supported-languages}
https://libretranslate.com/languages
## Language Bindings {#language-bindings}
You can use the LibreTranslate API using the following bindings:
- Rust:
- Node.js:
- TypeScript:
- .Net:
- Go:
- Python:
- PHP:
- C++:
- Swift:
- Unix:
- Shell:
- Java:
- Ruby:
- R: