# About the Google Photos APIs

The Google Photos APIs enable you to build rich photo and video experiences into
your applications, allowing you to interact with the hundreds of millions of
people who choose Google Photos. We offer two powerful APIs to help you achieve
your goals:

- **Google Photos Picker API:** Create a secure way for users to select photos and videos from their Google Photos library through a seamless integration with the Google Photos app.
- **Google Photos Library API:** Upload and manage photos and albums your app creates, all within your users' Google Photos libraries.

Get started by [enabling one (or more) of the APIs and configuring your
app](https://developers.google.com/photos/overview/configure-your-app).

## Key concepts

**Library:** This represents the collection of media items stored in the user's
Google Photos account.

- The Picker API lets [users select media items from their
  library](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/guides/sessions) to share with your app.
- The Library API lets you [manage content within the user's
  library](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/guides/list) that was created by your app.

**Albums:** These are collections of media items within a user's library, which
can be shared with other users.

- The Library API lets you to [create and manage
  albums](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/guides/manage-albums) created by your app.

**Media items:** These include photos, videos, and their associated metadata.

- Picker API:
  - The Picker API returns [PickedMediaItem](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/reference/rest/v1/mediaItems) objects representing the media items selected by the user.
  - Learn more about [listing and retrieving media
    items](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/guides/media-items) with the Picker API.
- Library API:
  - The Library API works with [MediaItem](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/reference/rest/v1/mediaItems) objects representing media items uploaded or created by your app.
  - Learn more about [working with media items](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/guides/list) with the Library API.

## Authorization

Like other Google REST APIs, the Google Photos APIs use [OAuth
2.0](https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/OAuth2) to handle authorization.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The Google Photos APIs don't support service accounts. To use these APIs, users must be signed in to a valid Google Account.

## Using the Google Photos APIs

Before you get started on your app development, review the following documents:

- [Photos API User Data and Developer Policy](https://developers.google.com/photos/support/api-policy)
- [UX guidelines](https://developers.google.com/photos/support/ux-guidelines) for designing your app
- The Google Photos APIs [limits and quotas](https://developers.google.com/photos/overview/api-limits-quotas)

## Explore the APIs

There are multiple ways to try out the APIs.

Try out the APIs without writing any code using the API Explorer available in
the reference documentation.

- [Try creating a session with the Picker API](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/reference/rest/v1/sessions/create)
- [Try creating an album with the Library API](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/reference/rest/v1/albums/create)

Explore our code samples demonstrating key features and use cases.

- [Picker API samples](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/samples)
- [Library API samples](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/samples)

## Partner program

You can integrate with the Google Photos APIs without joining the
partner program. However, if your app is likely to exceed the general
availability [quota limit](https://developers.google.com/photos/overview/api-limits-quotas), express interest
in the [Google Photos
partner program](https://developers.google.com/photos/partner-program).

## Learn more

[Configure your app](https://developers.google.com/photos/overview/configure-your-app): set up your project
and try out a sample.

Guides: the how-to guides and concepts around using the Google Photos APIs.

- [Picker API guides](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/guides/get-started-picker)
- [Library API guides](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/guides/get-started-library)

Reference docs: the API reference documentation

- [Picker API reference documentation](https://developers.google.com/photos/picker/reference/rest)
- [Library API reference documentation](https://developers.google.com/photos/library/reference/rest)

[Support](https://developers.google.com/photos/support/how-to-get-help): the support options for requesting
help or giving feedback.