---
title: "Read an operator's avatar"
method: GET
path: "/hd/desks/{desk_id}/avatars/{avatar_handle}"
tags: ["hd"]
---

# Read an operator's avatar

`GET /hd/desks/{desk_id}/avatars/{avatar_handle}`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.sparkvault.com/v1`
- URL: `https://api.sparkvault.com/v1/hd/desks/{desk_id}/avatars/{avatar_handle}`
- Auth: none required
- TypeScript: <https://skmtc.dev/sparkvault/apis/sparkvault-api/docs/hd/desks/:desk_id/avatars/:avatar_handle/get.ts> (a function with typed inputs; its response is checked against the schema)

The picture an operator's avatar address shows: their Secure Identity avatar while the desk shows avatars, or one generic silhouette for every other address, a retired or unknown one included, never saying why. Answers are cacheable for five minutes. Needs no credential; each client address spends a budget of reads a minute at the desk.

## Path parameters

- `desk_id` string, required
- `avatar_handle` string, required

## Response `200`

The picture.

## Other responses

- `429`: RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED — this client address has spent its reads at the desk for the minute. `Retry-After` carries the seconds until the budget reopens.
- `503`: BUDGET_UNAVAILABLE — a budget the request spends could not be counted, so the request was refused rather than let through uncounted; `Retry-After` carries the seconds to wait before trying again.

## Changes

- **2026-10-28** `a9a10e328ba5`: 8 info
  - the response property `error/details` became required for the status `429`
  - the response property `error/details` became required for the status `503`
  - the response property `meta` became required for the status `429`
  - the response property `meta` became required for the status `503`
  - …4 more
- **2026-10-28** `56d7c265a77a`: 2 breaking
  - the response property `error/details` became nullable for the status `429`
  - the response property `error/details` became nullable for the status `503`
- **2026-10-23** `ad4c62db5e08`: 1 info
  - added the non-success response with the status `503`
- **2026-10-22** `f5ac9c809ef7`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/sparkvault/apis/sparkvault-api/changes/hd/desks/:desk_id/avatars/:avatar_handle/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/sparkvault/apis/sparkvault-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/sparkvault/apis/sparkvault-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/sparkvault/apis/sparkvault-api/revisions/97cfadccd0c0?raw)