t6_mem0/docs/open-source/features/rest-api.mdx

---
title: REST API Server
icon: "server"
iconType: "solid"
---

<Note>
**Phase 2 Complete ✅** - The REST API implementation is fully functional and production-ready as of 2025-07-31.
</Note>

Mem0 provides a comprehensive REST API server built with FastAPI. The implementation features complete CRUD operations, authentication, rate limiting, and robust error handling. The API includes OpenAPI documentation accessible at `/docs` when the server is running.

<Frame caption="APIs supported by Mem0 REST API Server">
    <img src="/images/rest-api-server.png"/>
</Frame>

## Features ✅ Complete

- **Memory Management:** Full CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
- **User Management:** User-specific memory operations and statistics
- **Search & Retrieval:** Advanced search with filtering and pagination
- **Authentication:** API key-based authentication with Bearer tokens
- **Rate Limiting:** Configurable rate limiting (100 req/min default)
- **Admin Operations:** Protected admin endpoints for system management
- **Health Monitoring:** Health checks and system status endpoints
- **Error Handling:** Comprehensive error responses with structured format
- **OpenAPI Documentation:** Interactive API documentation at `/docs`
- **Async Operations:** Non-blocking operations for scalability

## Running Locally

<Tabs>
    <Tab title="Direct Python Execution ✅ Current Implementation">
        Our Phase 2 implementation provides a ready-to-use FastAPI server.

        1. Ensure you have the required dependencies installed:

        ```bash
        pip install fastapi uvicorn mem0ai[all] posthog qdrant-client vecs ollama
        ```

        2. Configure your environment (optional - has sensible defaults):

        ```bash
        export API_HOST=localhost
        export API_PORT=8080
        export API_KEYS=mem0_dev_key_123456789,mem0_custom_key_123
        export ADMIN_API_KEYS=mem0_admin_key_111222333
        export RATE_LIMIT_REQUESTS=100
        export RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_MINUTES=1
        ```

        3. Start the server:

        ```bash
        python start_api.py
        ```

        4. Access the API at **http://localhost:8080**
        5. View documentation at **http://localhost:8080/docs**
    </Tab>

    <Tab title="Direct Uvicorn">
        For development with automatic reloading:

        ```bash
        uvicorn api.main:app --host localhost --port 8080 --reload
        ```
    </Tab>

    <Tab title="With Docker ✅ Recommended for External Access">
        For external access and production deployment:

        ```bash
        # Using Docker Compose (recommended)
        docker-compose -f docker-compose.api.yml up -d
        ```

        Or build and run manually:

        ```bash
        # Build the image
        docker build -t mem0-api-server .

        # Run with external access
        docker run -d \
          --name mem0-api \
          -p 8080:8080 \
          -e API_HOST=0.0.0.0 \
          -e API_PORT=8080 \
          mem0-api-server
        ```

        **Access:** http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8080 (accessible from external networks)
        
        <Note>
        The Docker deployment automatically configures external access on `0.0.0.0:8080`.
        </Note>
    </Tab>
</Tabs>

## API Endpoints

Our Phase 2 implementation includes the following endpoints:

### Memory Operations
- `POST /v1/memories` - Add new memories
- `GET /v1/memories/search` - Search memories by content
- `GET /v1/memories/{memory_id}` - Get specific memory
- `DELETE /v1/memories/{memory_id}` - Delete specific memory
- `GET /v1/memories/user/{user_id}` - Get all user memories
- `DELETE /v1/users/{user_id}/memories` - Delete all user memories

### User Management
- `GET /v1/users/{user_id}/stats` - Get user statistics

### Health & Monitoring
- `GET /health` - Basic health check (no auth required)
- `GET /status` - Detailed system status (auth required)
- `GET /v1/metrics` - API metrics (admin only)

### Authentication
All endpoints (except `/health`) require authentication via Bearer token:

```bash
Authorization: Bearer mem0_dev_key_123456789
```

## Usage Examples

<CodeGroup>
```bash cURL
# Add a memory
curl -X POST "http://localhost:8080/v1/memories" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer mem0_dev_key_123456789" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "I love Python programming"}],
    "user_id": "user123",
    "metadata": {"source": "api_test"}
  }'
```

```python Python
import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer mem0_dev_key_123456789"}

# Add memory
response = requests.post(
    "http://localhost:8080/v1/memories",
    headers=headers,
    json={
        "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "I love Python programming"}],
        "user_id": "user123",
        "metadata": {"source": "python_client"}
    }
)

# Search memories
response = requests.get(
    "http://localhost:8080/v1/memories/search",
    headers=headers,
    params={"query": "Python", "user_id": "user123", "limit": 10}
)
```

```javascript JavaScript
const headers = {
  'Authorization': 'Bearer mem0_dev_key_123456789',
  'Content-Type': 'application/json'
};

// Add memory
const response = await fetch('http://localhost:8080/v1/memories', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    messages: [{role: 'user', content: 'I love Python programming'}],
    user_id: 'user123',
    metadata: {source: 'js_client'}
  })
});
```
</CodeGroup>

## Testing

We provide comprehensive testing suites:

```bash
# Run comprehensive tests
python test_api.py

# Run quick validation tests
python test_api_simple.py
```

## Interactive Documentation

When the server is running, access the interactive OpenAPI documentation at:
- **Swagger UI:** [http://localhost:8080/docs](http://localhost:8080/docs)
- **ReDoc:** [http://localhost:8080/redoc](http://localhost:8080/redoc)