--- title: "Retrieve a category" method: GET path: "/category/{category_slug}" tags: ["Categories"] --- # Retrieve a category `GET /category/{category_slug}` Retrieves the category identified by the specified slug. ## Headers - `Accept` 'application/vnd.Creative Force.v2.3+json' | 'application/vnd.Creative Force.v2.3+xml', required - `x-api-language` string[] ## Response `200` Category retrieved. - Category — Competition category that entries are submitted to. Includes the entry form used for submissions, its translated name and description, the season it belongs to, and the rules that govern entries within it. Categories can be nested under a parent category and made available across one or more chapters. - `created` string, date-time — Date and time when the category was created. - `description` object — Description shown to entrants on the category, as an HTML fragment. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `divisions` integer — Number of divisions configured for the category. Always at least `1`. - `form` object — Entry form attached to the category. - `slug` string — Short URL-safe identifier for the form. - `link` string, uri — Canonical URL for the form resource. - `name` object — Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `name` object — Display name of the category. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `parent` object, nullable — Parent category this category sits under. `null` for a top-level category. - `slug` string — Short URL-safe identifier for the parent category. - `link` string, uri — Canonical URL for the parent category resource. - `name` object — Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `promoted` 0 | 1 | null, nullable — Promotion state of the category. `1` when promoted, `0` when not, and `null` when no preference has been set. - `season` object — Season the category belongs to. - `slug` string — Short URL-safe identifier for the season. - `link` string, uri — Canonical URL for the season resource. - `name` object — Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `shortcode` object — Short code used to reference the category. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `slug` string — Short URL-safe identifier for the category. - `status` 'active' | 'inactive' — Current state of the category. - `updated` string, date-time — Date and time when the category was last updated. - `chapters` object[] — Chapters the category is available in. - `slug` string — Short URL-safe identifier for the chapter. - `link` string, uri — Canonical URL for the chapter resource. - `name` object — Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `entrant_max_entries` integer, nullable — Maximum number of entries a single entrant may submit to this category. `null` when the number of entries is not capped. - `entry_name_label` object — Custom label for the entry-name field shown to entrants. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `fill_entry_name` boolean — Specifies whether entrants are asked to name their entry when submitting to this category. - `image_heading` object — Heading shown above the category images. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `images` object[] — Images attached to the category. - `token` string — Token identifying the image file. - `link` string, uri — Canonical URL for the file resource. - `filename` string — Original filename as uploaded. - `download` string, uri — Time-limited download URL for the image. - `max_image_width` integer — Maximum display width for the category images, in pixels. - `packing_slip_instructions` object — Instructions shown on the packing slip for the category. Map keyed by locale code (for example, `en_GB` or `fr_FR`). Keys are drawn from the languages enabled on the account. Values are the translated string. - `pdf_packing_slip` boolean — Specifies whether a PDF packing slip is enabled for the category. ## Other responses - `400` — Request was rejected before the endpoint could process it. Common causes: invalid `Accept` header, unsupported `x-api-language` code, empty request body on `POST` / `PUT`, invalid JSON in the request body, or an invalid slug format in a path parameter. - `401` — Missing `x-api-key` header. - `403` — Authenticated request denied. Common causes: invalid or unknown API key, suspended account, or `api` feature not enabled for the account. - `404` — Resource identified by the path slug does not exist. Returned when the slug is well-formed but no record matches it. - `429` — Rate limit of 60 requests per minute exceeded. - `503` — Service is temporarily unavailable due to regional maintenance. ## Changes - **2026-07-07** (v2) `9b9103538ceb` — 2 info - api tag `Categories` added - api tag `Category` removed - **2026-07-01** (v2) `e96a96d4507e` — 7 info - added the media type `application/xml` for the response with the status `200` - added the media type `application/xml` for the response with the status `400` - added the media type `application/xml` for the response with the status `401` - added the media type `application/xml` for the response with the status `403` - …3 more [Change history](https://skmtc.dev/tectonic/apis/award-force-api/changes/category/:category_slug/get.md) --- [API](https://skmtc.dev/tectonic/apis/award-force-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/tectonic/apis/award-force-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/tectonic/award-force-api/revisions/e2511e46f9f2/schema)