IonQ

IonQ Backends API

The backends API from IonQ — 2 operation(s) for backends.

Documentation GitHub OpenAPI

Operations 2

GET /backends Get Backends #

GET /backends/{backend} Get a Backend #

Work with this as data

Every API here is available over the APIs.io API and to AI agents over MCP.

MCP server

One button, every client — Claude, Cursor, VS Code and the rest.

https://apis.io/mcp

Tools for apis

7 MCP tools reach this

find_apisBrowse and filter every API in the catalog.
get_api_artifactsOne API's artifacts, grouped by type.
get_openapiThe primary OpenAPI for this API.
find_similar_apisAPIs that look like this one.
apis_io_searchSTART HERE — APIs, providers and tags for one query, each with its total.
resolveTurn a domain, URL or GitHub org into the provider it belongs to.
find_cohortsEvery scored population of providers in the catalog.

All 92 tools →

Call it yourself

curl for this page

This API

curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/apis/ionq-backends-api"

All apis

curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/apis?limit=25"

Discovery needs no key. Ratings and market analysis are Pro.

Get an API key

Free tier, no form to fill in. Signing in shares your email address with us — we store it to create your key and to recognise you if you sign in with another provider. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.

GitHub Google LinkedIn

A second provider on the same verified email joins the account you already have.

OpenAPI Specification

openapi: 3.2.0
info:
  contact:
    email: support@ionq.co
    name: IonQ
    url: https://ionq.com/
  description: '*Last updated: May 15, 2026*

    IonQ''s API for accessing the IonQ Quantum Cloud platform


    Please subscribe for automated updates when we perform maintenance or

    experience an outage.


    In addition, you may use the status endpoint to check the

    current status of our API.


    ## Authentication'
  title: IonQ Cloud Platform Backends API
  version: v0.4
servers:
- url: https://api.ionq.co/v0.4
tags:
- name: Backends
paths:
  /backends:
    get:
      description: This endpoint retrieves all backends.
      operationId: getBackends
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ListBackends'
      security: []
      summary: Get Backends
      tags:
      - Backends
      x-codeSamples:
      - lang: curl
        source: 'curl "https://api.ionq.co/v0.4/backends"

          '
  /backends/{backend}:
    get:
      description: This endpoint retrieves a backend.
      operationId: getBackend
      parameters:
      - $ref: '#/components/parameters/backend'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/GetBackend'
      security: []
      summary: Get a Backend
      tags:
      - Backends
      x-codeSamples:
      - lang: curl
        source: 'curl "https://api.ionq.co/v0.4/backends/qpu.aria-1"

          '
components:
  schemas:
    Backend:
      description: A backend that you can target your program to run on.
      properties:
        average_queue_time:
          description: Current wait time on the queue for execution.
          example: 1181215
          format: unix-timestamp
          type: number
        backend:
          description: 'Specifies target hardware and generation where applies: `simulator`, `qpu.aria-1`, `qpu.aria-2`, `qpu.forte-1`, `qpu.forte-enterprise-1`, `qpu.forte-enterprise-2`, `qpu.forte-enterprise-3`'
          example: qpu.aria-1
          type: string
        characterization_id:
          description: Current characterization ID for this backend
          example: 617a1f8b-59d4-435d-aa33-695433d7155e
          type: string
        degraded:
          description: Flag to tell if the backend is degraded or not.
          type: boolean
        kw:
          description: The amount of energy used by the backend in kilowatt-hours.
          example: 4902.81
          format: double
          type: number
        last_updated:
          description: Last date time the backend status was updated.
          example: '2025-06-16T00:00:00Z'
          type: string
        location:
          description: The location of the backend.
          example: College Park, MD, USA
          type: string
        qubits:
          description: The number of qubits available.
          example: 25
          minimum: 0
          type: integer
        status:
          description: 'Current status of the backend: `available`, `unavailable`, `retired`.'
          type: string
      required:
      - backend
      - status
      - qubits
      - average_queue_time
      - last_updated
      type: object
  responses:
    ListBackends:
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            description: The list of backends.
            items:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/Backend'
            type: array
      description: Successfully retrieved backend.
    GetBackend:
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Backend'
      description: Successfully retrieved backend.
  parameters:
    backend:
      description: A backend where jobs can run on.
      in: path
      name: backend
      required: true
      schema:
        enum:
        - qpu.aria-1
        - qpu.aria-2
        - qpu.forte-1
        - qpu.forte-enterprise-1
        - qpu.forte-enterprise-2
        - qpu.forte-enterprise-3
        type: string
  securitySchemes:
    apiKeyAuth:
      description: 'API keys are associated with a user and can be created on the [IonQ Quantum Cloud](https://cloud.ionq.com) application. To authenticate, prefix your API Key with `apiKey ` and place it in the `Authorization` request header. Ex: `Authorization: apiKey your-api-key`'
      in: header
      name: Authorization
      type: apiKey

IonQ Backends API

Operations 2

Documentation

Specifications

Schemas & Data

Other Resources