Civic News

PHL API: City of Philadelphia’s API database

First developed to be used at PennApps spring 2013, the city built the database with an eye toward making its APIs as "attractive" to developers as possible, said Chief Data Officer Mark Headd.

Chief Data Officer Mark Headd's Philly Homicide map.

You know about OpenDataPhilly, the city’s open data library. Now meet its cousin, PHL API.

Still a work in progress, it will eventually be a database of the all city’s APIs — you know, those tools that pipe in fresh, clean data into the tools and applications you love.

It already features loads of geospatial APIs, as well as the APIs for crime data, L&I data and 311 data. The site also features resources for developers, like tips for using a specific API, anda gallery of apps made using the different APIs.

Visit PHL API here.

First developed to be used at PennApps spring 2013, the city built the database with an eye toward making its APIs as “attractive” to developers as possible, said Chief Data Officer Mark Headd.

“I think cities like Philly need to look (and act) like every other company that has a public API,” Headd said in an email, referring to the fact that companies with public APIs provide resources around them for developers, like “detailed documentation, code samples, client libraries in a variety if languages, a forum for discussion and feedback.”

Only one other major city – Chicago – does this with its APIs, but Philly’s is more expansive, Headd said.

Companies: City of Philadelphia

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

Our services Preferred partners The journalism fund
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

The person charged in the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting had a ton of tech connections

From rejection to innovation: How I built a tool to beat AI hiring algorithms at their own game

How a laid-off AI enthusiast pivoted to become a founder — while holding down a day job

Where are the country’s most vibrant tech and startup communities?

Technically Media