Docs/APIs/Code Detector

Code Detector

Detect code in text

OperationalCredits 10 per callp50 233msAI/Computer VisionStar

Overview

Code Detector works by analyzing the text provided and detecting the language of code in the text. It uses various sources to determine the language and returns details such as extension, language, family, and more.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

POSThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/codedetector
curl -X POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/codedetector \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "code": "a = 5\nb = 6\nc = 7\n\n# calculate the semi-perimeter\ns = (a + b + c) / 2\n\n# calculate the area\narea = (s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)) ** 0.5\nprint('The area of the triangle is %0.2f' %area)"
}'
const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/codedetector', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "code": "a = 5\nb = 6\nc = 7\n\n# calculate the semi-perimeter\ns = (a + b + c) / 2\n\n# calculate the area\narea = (s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)) ** 0.5\nprint('The area of the triangle is %0.2f' %area)"
}),
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);
import requests

res = requests.post(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/codedetector",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    json={
    "code": "a = 5\nb = 6\nc = 7\n\n# calculate the semi-perimeter\ns = (a + b + c) / 2\n\n# calculate the area\narea = (s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)) ** 0.5\nprint('The area of the triangle is %0.2f' %area)"
},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
	"strings"
)

func main() {
	body := strings.NewReader(`{
  "code": "a = 5\nb = 6\nc = 7\n\n# calculate the semi-perimeter\ns = (a + b + c) / 2\n\n# calculate the area\narea = (s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)) ** 0.5\nprint('The area of the triangle is %0.2f' %area)"
}`)
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/codedetector", body)
	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent as JSON in the request body. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

ParameterTypeDescription
codeRequiredstringThe code snippet you want to detect the programming language of

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "likelihood": 0.99,
    "family": "PYTHON",
    "current": "python",
    "readable": "Python Code",
    "extension": ".py",
    "paradigm": "multi-paradigm",
    "isCompiled": false
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
likelihoodPremiumnumber0.99Confidence score for code language detection (0.0 to 1.0)
familyPremiumstring"PYTHON"Programming language family or category classification
currentstring"python"Detected programming language in lowercase format
readablestring"Python Code"Human-readable name of the detected programming language
extensionstring".py"Standard file extension for the detected language
paradigmPremiumstring"multi-paradigm"Programming paradigm: object-oriented, functional, procedural, multi-paradigm
isCompiledPremiumbooleanfalseWhether the language is compiled or interpreted

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

StatusMeaningWhat to do
400Input was rejectedRead error; it names the parameter.
401Key missing or invalidCheck the header name and the key value.
403Key valid, but not permittedA key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
429Rate limited, or out of creditsRead error to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Other ways to use Code Detector

Set up Code Detector on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKitReference →
Use it in Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheetsReference →
Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContextReference →

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