# Maven Central API

> Maven Central returns library versions, release dates, and dependency snippets as a workflow and API.

Maven Central finds a library by name or group:artifact coordinates and returns its latest release, date, version count, and dependency snippets. Get latest version needs a library name or coordinates; use coordinates to select an exact artifact.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/maven-central
- Handle: `@maven-central`
- Category: [Developer tools](https://fous.com/workflows/category/developer-tools)
- Source website: https://central.sonatype.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Maven Central.

## Methods

### Get latest version

Operation `get_latest_version`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Find the best matching Maven Central library from its name or group:artifact coordinates. Returns its current release, release date, version count, dependency snippets, and matched artifact. Broad names may match a different project than intended; use coordinates to select an exact artifact.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `library` | string | yes | `"jackson databind"` | Library name or Maven group:artifact coordinates, for example jackson databind or com.google.guava:guava. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "library"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "library": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Library name or Maven group:artifact coordinates, for example jackson databind or com.google.guava:guava.",
      "examples": [
        "jackson databind",
        "com.google.guava:guava",
        "guava"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "library": "jackson databind"
    },
    {
      "library": "com.google.guava:guava"
    },
    {
      "library": "guava"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `group` | string | `"com.fasterxml.jackson.core"` | Matched Maven group. |
| `artifact` | string | `"jackson-databind"` | Matched Maven artifact. |
| `release_date` | string or null | `"2026-09-21"` | UTC publication date of the release POM, when available. |
| `latest_version` | string | `"2.22.3"` | Latest release version in the repository. |
| `maven_dependency` | string | `"<dependency>\n    <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>\n    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>\n    <ve` | Maven dependency XML. |
| `gradle_dependency` | string | `"implementation 'com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind:2.22.3'"` | Gradle Groovy dependency declaration. |
| `maven_central_link` | string | `"https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.fasterxml.jackson.core/jackson-databind/2.22.3"` | Page for the matched version on Maven Central. |
| `number_of_versions` | integer | `235` | Number of published versions listed by the repository. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "library": "jackson databind"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "group": "com.fasterxml.jackson.core",
  "artifact": "jackson-databind",
  "release_date": "2026-09-21",
  "latest_version": "2.22.3",
  "maven_dependency": "<dependency>\n    <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>\n    <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>\n    <version>2.22.3</version>\n</dependency>",
  "gradle_dependency": "implementation 'com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind:2.22.3'",
  "maven_central_link": "https://central.sonatype.com/artifact/com.fasterxml.jackson.core/jackson-databind/2.22.3",
  "number_of_versions": 235
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@maven-central",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_latest_version",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "library": "jackson databind"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@maven-central\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_latest_version\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"library\": \"jackson databind\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@maven-central",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_latest_version",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "library": "jackson databind"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@maven-central","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Check a library’s latest release
- Review a library’s release date and version count
- Copy Maven or Gradle dependency declarations
- Find an artifact using its group and artifact coordinates

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Maven Central?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Maven Central. This workflow reads the public central.sonatype.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Maven Central account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from central.sonatype.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### What is the latest version of a library?

Get latest version returns the latest release version for a matching library.

### When was the latest release published?

Get latest version returns the release POM’s UTC publication date when available.

### What dependency declaration should I use?

Get latest version returns Maven XML and Gradle Groovy dependency snippets.

## Related

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- [PyPI API](https://fous.com/workflows/pypi.md): PyPI provides package metadata, links, and current/latest plus 10 recent versions; release dates reflect first file uploads, and keyword searches return up to 100 packages.
- [Go Packages API](https://fous.com/workflows/go-packages.md): Find Go module versions, licenses, usage and source repositories.
- [All Developer tools workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/developer-tools)