---
title: "List formats"
method: GET
path: "/formats"
tags: ["Formats"]
---

# List formats

`GET /formats`

Returns all file formats that Phrase Strings supports. Use the api_name value
from each format as the file_format parameter when uploading or downloading
locale files. Not every format supports both directions: check the importable
and exportable fields before using a format in a workflow. This endpoint does
not require authentication and is not subject to rate limiting.

## Response `200`

OK

- Format[]
  - `name` string, required — Human-readable display name of the format.
  - `api_name` string, required — Identifier used to reference this format in API requests, such as the file_format parameter on the uploads and downloads endpoints.
  - `description` string, required — Human-readable summary of the format and its typical use case.
  - `extension` string, required — Default file extension associated with this format.
  - `default_encoding` string, required — Default character encoding used when reading or writing files in this format.
  - `importable` boolean, required — Whether locale files can be imported using this format.
  - `exportable` boolean, required — Whether locale files can be exported using this format.
  - `default_file` string, required — Conventional file path pattern for this format. Contains locale_name as a placeholder for the locale identifier.
  - `renders_default_locale` boolean, required — When true, exported files contain the default locale's content for any key that has no translation in the target locale.
  - `includes_locale_information` boolean, required — When true, files in this format embed locale information so Phrase can detect the locale automatically on import.

## Other responses

- `400` — Bad request. The request could not be parsed or a parameter failed validation. Verify the request body, the content type, and the parameter types, then retry.

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/phrase/apis/control-hub-service.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/phrase/apis/control-hub-service/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/phrase/control-hub-service/revisions/98ecac7ba2bf/schema)