Endpoint

POST/functions/v1/decode

Contract

Send mymolecules-api-version with 2026-07-10 to use the documented response contract.

{
  "data": {},
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_...",
    "api_version": "2026-07-10"
  }
}

Headers

Request

x-api-key required - Server-side API key for your integration.
mymolecules-api-version required 2026-07-10 - Use the latest stable API version: 2026-07-10.
Content-Type required application/json - Required for JSON request bodies.

Response

x-request-id required - Request identifier. Log this value when contacting support.
mymolecules-api-version required 2026-07-10 - The API contract version used for the response.
x-ratelimit-limit optional - Quota limit for the current key and window when quota data is available.
x-ratelimit-remaining optional - Remaining requests in the current quota window when quota data is available.
x-ratelimit-reset optional - ISO timestamp for the current quota window reset when quota data is available.
retry-after optional - Seconds to wait before retrying when the request is rate-limited or temporarily unavailable.

Inputs

input_mode: unstructured, structured or decode_id
Unstructured input with foodText, foodImage, foodVoice, foodImageRemaining or attachments; media fields accept data URLs or HTTP(S) URLs
Structured input with a non-empty items array
decode_id input with decode_food_id

Returns

202 queued response with job_id and status_url
Status response with queued, processing, completed or failed
Completed food_detected result with recognized foods, reusable decode_food_id values and molecular measurements
Completed no_food_detected result with an empty items array when the input contains no food

Async pattern

Create the job with POST, then poll the same endpoint with job_id until the status is completed or failed.

Poll parameter: job_id
Status values: queued, processing, completed, failed

Error codes

missing_api_key
invalid_api_key
scope_not_allowed
quota_exceeded
invalid_json
invalid_request
validation_error
method_not_allowed
unsupported_api_version
job_not_found
backlog_high
upstream_timeout
upstream_error
internal_error

Request details

Use exactly one input mode. Do not mix decode_food_id with food text, images, voice or structured items.
Describe textual remaining information in foodText. Use foodImageRemaining only for a separate photo of what remained.
Optional compound_identifier_names or compound_identifier_ids can narrow molecular output to selected compounds.
Set include_compound_identifier_value or include_measurement_min_max only when those additional fields are needed.

Response details

Poll GET /functions/v1/decode?job_id=... until status is completed or failed.
Status polling returns result when available and error when a job fails.
Every completed result has type: food_detected or type: no_food_detected. No-food is a completed domain result, not a failed job.
no_food_detected always returns items: [] and error: null.
Molecular measurements include measurement_unit and matrix_unit; matrix_unit is an array because an aggregated result can use more than one food basis.
Use include_result=false or result=none on status requests when you only need the job state.

Operational notes

Requires x-api-key with the edge:decode scope.
POST usage is counted and rate-limit headers are returned when quota data is available.
Large media payloads should be sent only when needed; URLs or attachments are preferable for repeated workflows.

Examples

Request JSON

{
  "input_mode": "unstructured",
  "foodText": "Greek yogurt with blueberries, walnuts and honey"
}

Response JSON

{
  "data": {
    "job_id": "8a93f4...",
    "status": "queued",
    "status_url": "https://api.mymolecules.de/functions/v1/decode?job_id=8a93f4..."
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_...",
    "api_version": "2026-07-10"
  }
}

Code examples

curl -X POST 'https://api.mymolecules.de/functions/v1/decode' \
  -H 'x-api-key: $MYMOLECULES_API_KEY' \
  -H 'mymolecules-api-version: 2026-07-10' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{  "input_mode": "unstructured",  "foodText": "Greek yogurt with blueberries, walnuts and honey"}'

Try in playground