# tvmaze.show_by_imdb

**stable** **Standard**

TV show by IMDb id.

`GET /v1/tvmaze/show_by_imdb`

## What you get

One Tvmaze record in Onekey's unified shape, in `data`. If the record does not exist you get a `404 not_found` and are not charged.

## What it costs

- **Standard · 1 credit** for a fresh fetch, charged only when it succeeds.
- **Free when served from cache (0.2 credit for a cached response over 100 KB).**
- **Free** if the request is invalid (never charged) or the source fails or reports not found (refunded).

## Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Default | What it is | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `imdb` | string | yes | (required) | IMDb id, e.g. tt0944947 | max 11 chars; must match `tt[0-9]{6,9}`; trimmed |

## Request

```bash
curl "https://api.onekey.dev/v1/tvmaze/show_by_imdb?imdb=tt0944947" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

```python
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.onekey.dev/v1/tvmaze/show_by_imdb",
    params={"imdb": "tt0944947"},
    headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
body = res.json()

if body["success"]:
    print(body["data"])
else:
    print(body["error"]["code"], body["error"]["message"])
```

```javascript
const params = new URLSearchParams({ imdb: "tt0944947" });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.onekey.dev/v1/tvmaze/show_by_imdb?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" },
});
const body = await res.json();

if (body.success) console.log(body.data);
else console.error(body.error.code, body.error.message);
```

## Recorded response

A real Tvmaze response, recorded and returned in Onekey's shape. Fields the platform does not provide are `null`.

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "entity": {
      "id": "82",
      "name": "Game of Thrones",
      "url": "https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/82/game-of-thrones",
      "description": "Based on the bestselling book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, this sprawling new HBO drama is set in a world where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and ancient Wall that protects the realm from the mysterious darkness beyond, the powerful families of the Seven Kingdoms are locked in a battle for the Iron Throne. This is a story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and hon",
      "language": "English",
      "status": "Ended",
      "category": "Drama",
      "stats": {
        "rating": 8.9
      }
    },
    "ext": {
      "premiered": "2011-04-17",
      "runtime": 60,
      "network": "HBO",
      "imdbId": "tt0944947"
    },
    "media": {
      "thumbnailUrl": "https://static.tvmaze.com/uploads/images/medium_portrait/498/1245274.jpg",
      "url": "https://static.tvmaze.com/uploads/images/original_untouched/498/1245274.jpg"
    }
  },
  "metadata": {
    "platform": "tvmaze",
    "endpoint": "show_by_imdb",
    "cached": false,
    "stale": false,
    "age_s": 0,
    "fetched_at": "2026-01-01T12:00:00+00:00",
    "credits_charged": 1,
    "request_id": "7f3a9c2e5b1d4c8fa2e6d0b9c4f18e37"
  },
  "error": null
}
```

## Field mapping

How this endpoint's source fields become Onekey's [unified schema](https://onekey.dev/docs/schema.md). Fields the source lacks come back as `null`.

| Source path | Onekey field | Transform |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | `entity.id` | `toString` |
| `name` | `entity.name` | - |
| `url` | `entity.url` | `safeUrl` |
| `summary` | `entity.description` | `stripHtml` |
| `language` | `entity.language` | - |
| `status` | `entity.status` | - |
| `premiered` | `ext.premiered` | - |
| `genres.0` | `entity.category` | - |
| `runtime` | `ext.runtime` | `toNumber` |
| `rating.average` | `entity.stats.rating` | `toNumber` |
| `network.name` | `ext.network` | - |
| `externals.imdb` | `ext.imdbId` | - |
| `image.medium` | `media.thumbnailUrl` | `safeUrl` |
| `image.original` | `media.url` | `safeUrl` |

## Caching and freshness

- Fresh for about 1 hour. Repeat calls in that window are served from cache and are free.
- Between 1 hour and 1 day the cached copy is still served instantly and marked `stale: true` while Onekey refreshes it in the background.
- If the source is down when a refresh is needed, the last copy can be served for up to 3 days more (marked stale).
- A "not found" is remembered for 5 minutes and is free.
- The cache is shared across all customers, which is what keeps repeat calls cheap.

## What can go wrong

| Status | Code | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `unauthorized` | Check the `x-api-key` header. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | [Add credits](https://onekey.dev/pricing); your balance must cover the price. |
| 404 | `not_found` | That record does not exist. Free; do not retry. |
| 422 | `invalid_params` | Fix the parameters using the table above. Free. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Wait `Retry-After` seconds, then retry. |
| 502 | `upstream_error` | The source failed. Refunded; retry with backoff. |

See [Errors](https://onekey.dev/docs/errors.md) for the full list and retry guidance.

Status: stable (verified against the live source).