Product Information Management API Service

What is an API?

API is an abbreviation of "Application Programming Interface" and refers to an interface mechanism (program) which connects various systems and applications. To explain things in a simple and easy to understand manner, APIs are a mechanism that you call and connect to using software, etc. with a predetermined method when you want some kind of data and then the desired information or data is returned to you.
Using an API has the advantage of enabling you to use the latest information and data at all times.

For example, there are the following utilization examples.

  • Calling the API for a map app from a website to display a map on the page
  • Calling a bank API in a smartphone household budgeting app to retrieve the latest bank account balance
  • Using a stock price API to retrieve the latest stock prices with a macro (VBA) from your own copy of Excel

API features are developed, appear, are externally released, and used/applied in various services, and their value and importance have continued to increase.

What is a Web API?

A Web API generally refers to a type of API which uses the HTTP communication that is used on the Internet and website networks. The types of Web APIs include SOAP and REST, and the data formats which they provide are expressed as XML and JSON, etc. These Web APIs can be called using various programming languages (Excel VBA, Python, JavaScript, PHP, C#, etc.) to automatically link data and information to databases, websites, and Excel, etc.

The Murata Product Information API is a REST API which adopts the JSON data format. The "Product Information Excel Add-in" is a mechanism which is recommended for beginners and can be used by anyone to call the API for each Murata part number from an Excel function by installing it as an Excel add-in to automatically update the Excel information. In addition, we have prepared two types of "Product Information API" services for website administrators, database administrators, and other advanced users.

What is the Product Information Management API Service?

Murata's Product Information Management API (Application Program Interface) Service is a mechanism for providing information about our products to customers and partner companies through an API. By using this API service, you can retrieve the latest information which is linked to our product information database at any time. The two types of services which are provided are the (1) Product Information API and the (2) Product Information Excel Add-in, which are suited to the following tasks. At the current time, the Murata Product Information API services are provided free of charge.

  1. Product Information API
    Automatically retrieving and updating the product information database in your company's website or intranet with the latest status, specification, data, and other information about Murata products
     Embedding the API in an update program which directly links to your company's database
    • Retrieving a URL which can batch download the specification information for all products in JSON format (tens of thousands of entries at one time)
    • Configuring search conditions to retrieve the specification information for the corresponding products (2,000 entries/one call)
  2. Product Information Excel Add-in
    Automatically retrieving and updating to the latest status, specification, data, and other information for each Murata product part number in your copy of Excel
     Using an Excel function in an Excel worksheet to easily display the status, specification, data, and other information for dozens of Murata products

An API key issued by Murata is required when using these API services. Please request a usage application from "API key issuing request."

Feature 1: Product Information API

A REST (Representational State Transfer) API which returns information about our products in JSON format. For more details about the request parameters and the responses, etc., click the version number links in the table below.

Swipe left or right to change screens View in landscape mode.
Version Target category Release date Planned date of discontinuation *1 Notes
1.0 Ceramic capacitors (SMD),
Ceramic capacitors (lead)
2020/08/01 No longer offered Trial version
(New users should use version 2.0)
2.2 Ceramic capacitors (SMD),
Ceramic capacitors (lead),
Inductors
2021/01/15 - General release version
  • Added inductors to the target categories.
  • Replaced the "API for Retrieving the List of All Part Numbers" with the "API for Retrieving the Specification Information URL for All Part Numbers."
  • Added 'Brand' to the inductor's properties. (2022/05)
  • Revised 'Possible values for each search condition' of 'Application'. (2023/02)
  • Added 'RecommendedApplication' to the response. (2023/02)
  • *1The planned date of discontinuation may change depending on the API usage status.

Feature 2: Product Information Excel Add-in

Excel function which returns information about our products. Display the latest information for the corresponding status, specification, and data, etc. by configuring the Excel function. The add-in file must be downloaded and installed in advance when using this feature. For more details about the add-in file installation procedure, function call format, etc., click the version number links in the table below.

Video introducing the product information Excel Add-in feature

Swipe left or right to change screens View in landscape mode.
Version Target category Release date Planned date of discontinuation *1 Notes
1.0 Ceramic capacitors (SMD),
Ceramic capacitors (lead)
2020/08/01 No longer offered Trial version
(New users should use version 2.0)
2.0 Ceramic capacitors (SMD),
Ceramic capacitors (lead),
Inductors
2021/01/15 - General release version
  • Added inductors to the target categories.
  • *1The planned date of discontinuation may change depending on the API usage status.

API usage application

An individual API key is required to use the Murata Product Information Management API Service. A membership at the my Murata Ceramic Capacitor Site is required to obtain an individual API key. If you wish to use the Murata API Service, please ask for a usage application from "API key issue request."

  • For customers who already have a membership at the my Murata Ceramic Capacitor Site
    1. Please submit an API key issue request below.
      * The procedure may take several days.
    2. We will send you the API key to start using the service.
  • For customers who do not have a membership at the my Murata Ceramic Capacitor Site
    1. Please submit an API key issue request below. (We will send you information about how to create a my Murata account and an application to join the Ceramic Capacitor Site)
    2. Create the my Murata account using an e-mail address within a corporate domain and submit the application to join the Ceramic Capacitor Site.
      * The procedure may take several days.
    3. As soon as the membership to the Ceramic Capacitor Site has been granted, we will send you the API key to start using the service.
      * Please understand that we will be unable to issue an API key in the event that the application to join the Ceramic Capacitor Site is denied.
       (Please see"Q. Why am I declined for the site registration from my Murata?")