CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

aid: code-of-conduct-md
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/code-of-conduct-md/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
name: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
tags:
- Community
- Contributor Covenant
- Governance
- Open-Source
- Repository File
- Standards
tags_raw:
- Community
- Contributor Covenant
- Governance
- Open Source
- Repository File
- Standards
type: Index
accessModel:
  pricing: unknown
  onboarding: unknown
  trial: false
  try_now: false
  public: false
  label: Unknown
  confidence: low
  source: []
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/code-of-conduct-md.png
access: 3rd-Party
kind: standard
created: '2025-01-01'
modified: '2026-04-26'
position: Consumer
description: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md is the de-facto repository file used by open-source projects on GitHub, GitLab, and similar
  platforms to declare community standards, acceptable behavior, and enforcement procedures for project participants. The
  most widely adopted text dropped into this file is the Contributor Covenant, currently at version 2.1, maintained by the
  Organization for Ethical Source. GitHub surfaces a CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md located in the repo root, .github/, or docs/ directory
  in its Community Standards checklist and links to it from issue templates. The file is plain Markdown and has no machine-readable
  schema, but it is structurally consistent across the dominant template (Contributor Covenant) and a small number of alternatives
  (Citizen Code of Conduct, Django Code of Conduct, Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines).
x-status: De facto convention
x-canonical-template: Contributor Covenant 2.1
x-current-version: '2.1'
x-licenses:
- name: Contributor Covenant
  license: CC BY 4.0
  url: https://www.contributor-covenant.org/
x-discovery:
- GitHub displays community profile entry when CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md exists
- Looks for the file in /, .github/, or docs/ (first found wins)
- GitHub also offers a Code of Conduct picker via Insights -> Community
x-typical-sections:
- Our Pledge
- Our Standards
- Enforcement Responsibilities
- Scope
- Enforcement (contact and reporting)
- Enforcement Guidelines / Community Impact Ladder
- Attribution
x-enforcement-ladder:
- level: Correction
  impact: Use of inappropriate language or unprofessional behavior
  consequence: Private written warning with explanation; public apology may be requested
- level: Warning
  impact: A violation through a single incident or series of actions
  consequence: Warning with consequences for continued behavior; no interaction with the parties involved for a specified
    period
- level: Temporary Ban
  impact: A serious violation of community standards
  consequence: Temporary ban from any public interaction or communication with the community
- level: Permanent Ban
  impact: Demonstrating a pattern of violation, harassment, or aggression
  consequence: Permanent ban from any public interaction within the community
x-related-files:
- CONTRIBUTING.md
- SECURITY.md
- GOVERNANCE.md
- SUPPORT.md
- CODEOWNERS
- LICENSE
apis: []
common:
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/code-of-conduct-md-domain-security.yml
- type: Specification
  url: https://www.contributor-covenant.org/version/2/1/code_of_conduct/
- type: Reference
  url: https://www.contributor-covenant.org/version/2/1/code_of_conduct/code_of_conduct.md
- type: Website
  url: https://www.contributor-covenant.org/
- type: Translations
  url: https://www.contributor-covenant.org/translations/
- type: Documentation
  url: https://docs.github.com/en/communities/setting-up-your-project-for-healthy-contributions/adding-a-code-of-conduct-to-your-project
- type: Documentation
  url: https://docs.github.com/en/communities/setting-up-your-project-for-healthy-contributions/about-community-management-and-moderation
- type: AlternateStandard
  url: https://citizencodeofconduct.org/
- type: AlternateStandard
  url: https://www.djangoproject.com/conduct/
- type: AlternateStandard
  url: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/governance/policies/participation/
- type: License
  url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com
specificationVersion: '0.23'