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Additional Features

This document covers additional protocols.io API features including user profiles, recently published protocols, experiment records, and notifications.

Claude Code Knowledge Pack7/10/2026

Overview

Additional Features

Overview

This document covers additional protocols.io API features including user profiles, recently published protocols, experiment records, and notifications.

Base URL

All endpoints use the base URL: https://protocols.io/api/v3

User Profile Management

Get User Profile

Retrieve the authenticated user's profile information.

Endpoint: GET /profile

Response includes:

  • User ID and username
  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Affiliation/institution
  • Bio and description
  • Profile image URL
  • Account creation date
  • Protocol count and statistics

Example Request:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/profile"

Update User Profile

Update profile information.

Endpoint: PATCH /profile

Request Body:

  • first_name: First name
  • last_name: Last name
  • email: Email address
  • affiliation: Institution or organization
  • bio: Profile bio/description
  • location: Geographic location
  • website: Personal or lab website URL
  • twitter: Twitter handle
  • orcid: ORCID identifier

Example Request:

curl -X PATCH \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\
  -d '{
    "affiliation": "University of Example, Department of Biology",
    "bio": "Researcher specializing in CRISPR gene editing and molecular biology",
    "orcid": "0000-0001-2345-6789"
  }' \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/profile"

Upload Profile Image

Update profile picture.

Endpoint: POST /profile/image

Request Format: multipart/form-data

Form Parameters:

  • image (required): Image file (JPEG, PNG)

Recommended specifications:

  • Minimum size: 200x200 pixels
  • Aspect ratio: Square (1:1)
  • Format: JPEG or PNG
  • Max file size: 5 MB

Recently Published Protocols

Query Published Protocols

Discover recently published public protocols.

Endpoint: GET /publications

Query Parameters:

  • key: Search keywords
  • category: Filter by category
    • Example categories: molecular-biology, cell-biology, biochemistry, etc.
  • date_from: Start date (ISO 8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD)
  • date_to: End date
  • order_field: Sort field (published_on, title, views)
  • order_dir: Sort direction (desc, asc)
  • page_size: Number of results per page (default: 10, max: 50)
  • page_id: Page number for pagination

Example Request:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/publications?category=molecular-biology&date_from=2025-01-01&order_field=published_on&order_dir=desc"

Use Cases:

  • Discover trending protocols
  • Monitor new publications in your field
  • Find recently published protocols for specific techniques
  • Track citation-worthy protocols

Experiment Records

Overview

Experiment records allow users to document individual runs or executions of a protocol, tracking what worked, what didn't, and any modifications made.

Create Experiment Record

Document an execution of a protocol.

Endpoint: POST /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs

Path Parameters:

  • protocol_id: The protocol's unique identifier

Request Body:

  • title (required): Experiment run title
  • date: Date of experiment execution (ISO 8601 format)
  • status: Experiment outcome
    • success: Experiment succeeded
    • partial: Partially successful
    • failed: Experiment failed
  • notes: Detailed notes about the experiment run
  • modifications: Protocol modifications or deviations
  • results: Summary of results
  • attachments: File IDs for data files or images

Example Request:

curl -X POST \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \\
  -d '{
    "title": "CRISPR Editing - HEK293 Cells - Trial 3",
    "date": "2025-10-20",
    "status": "success",
    "notes": "Successfully achieved 87% editing efficiency. Increased sgRNA concentration from 100nM to 150nM based on previous trials.",
    "modifications": "Extended incubation time in step 3 from 30 min to 45 min",
    "results": "Flow cytometry confirmed 87% GFP+ cells after 72h. Western blot showed complete knockout in positive population."
  }' \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/protocols/12345/runs"

List Experiment Records

Retrieve all experiment records for a protocol.

Endpoint: GET /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs

Query Parameters:

  • status: Filter by outcome (success, partial, failed)
  • date_from: Start date
  • date_to: End date
  • page_size: Number of results per page
  • page_id: Page number for pagination

Update Experiment Record

Endpoint: PATCH /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs/{run_id}

Request Body: Same parameters as create, all optional

Delete Experiment Record

Endpoint: DELETE /protocols/{protocol_id}/runs/{run_id}

Use Cases:

  • Track reproducibility across multiple experiments
  • Document troubleshooting and optimization
  • Share successful modifications with collaborators
  • Build institutional knowledge base
  • Support lab notebook requirements

Notifications

Get User Notifications

Retrieve notifications for the authenticated user.

Endpoint: GET /notifications

Query Parameters:

  • type: Filter by notification type
    • comment: New comments on your protocols
    • mention: You were mentioned in a comment
    • protocol_update: Protocol you follow was updated
    • workspace: Workspace activity
    • publication: Protocol was published
  • read: Filter by read status
    • true: Only read notifications
    • false: Only unread notifications
    • Omit for all notifications
  • page_size: Number of results per page (default: 20, max: 100)
  • page_id: Page number for pagination

Response includes:

  • Notification ID and type
  • Message/description
  • Related protocol/comment/workspace
  • Timestamp
  • Read status

Example Request:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/notifications?read=false&type=comment"

Mark Notification as Read

Endpoint: PATCH /notifications/{notification_id}

Request Body:

  • read: Set to true

Mark All Notifications as Read

Endpoint: POST /notifications/mark-all-read

Delete Notification

Endpoint: DELETE /notifications/{notification_id}

Organization Management

Export Organization Data

Export all protocols and workspace data from an organization.

Endpoint: GET /organizations/{organization_id}/export

Path Parameters:

  • organization_id: The organization's unique identifier

Query Parameters:

  • format: Export format
    • json: JSON format with full metadata
    • csv: CSV format for spreadsheet import
    • xml: XML format
  • include_files: Include associated files (true/false)
  • include_comments: Include discussions (true/false)

Response: Download URL for export package

Use Cases:

  • Institutional archival
  • Compliance and audit requirements
  • Migration to other systems
  • Backup and disaster recovery
  • Data analysis and reporting

Example Request:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \\
  "https://protocols.io/api/v3/organizations/12345/export?format=json&include_files=true&include_comments=true"

Common Integration Patterns

1. Protocol Discovery and Import

Build a protocol discovery workflow:

# Search for relevant protocols
response = requests.get(
    'https://protocols.io/api/v3/publications',
    headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'},
    params={'key': 'CRISPR', 'category': 'molecular-biology'}
)

# For each interesting protocol
for protocol in response.json()['items']:
    # Get full details
    details = requests.get(
        f'https://protocols.io/api/v3/protocols/{protocol["id"]}',
        headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {token}'}
    )
    # Import to local system
    import_protocol(details.json())

2. Experiment Tracking

Track all protocol executions:

  1. Execute protocol in lab
  2. Document execution: POST /protocols/{id}/runs
  3. Upload result files to workspace
  4. Link files in experiment record
  5. Analyze success rates across runs

3. Notification System Integration

Build custom notification system:

  1. Poll for new notifications: GET /notifications?read=false
  2. Process each notification type
  3. Send to internal communication system
  4. Mark as read: PATCH /notifications/{id}

4. Profile Synchronization

Keep profiles synchronized across systems:

  1. Retrieve profile: GET /profile
  2. Compare with internal system
  3. Update discrepancies
  4. Sync profile images and metadata

API Response Formats

Standard Response Structure

Most API responses follow this structure:

{
  "status_code": 0,
  "status_message": "Success",
  "item": { /* single item data */ },
  "items": [ /* array of items */ ],
  "pagination": {
    "current_page": 0,
    "total_pages": 5,
    "page_size": 10,
    "total_items": 42
  }
}

Error Response Structure

{
  "status_code": 400,
  "status_message": "Bad Request",
  "error_message": "Missing required parameter: title",
  "error_details": {
    "field": "title",
    "issue": "required"
  }
}

Best Practices

  1. Profile Completeness

    • Complete all profile fields
    • Add ORCID for research attribution
    • Keep affiliation current

  2. Experiment Documentation

    • Document all protocol executions
    • Include both successes and failures
    • Note all modifications
    • Attach relevant data files

  3. Notification Management

    • Review notifications regularly
    • Enable relevant notification types
    • Disable notification types you don't need
    • Respond to comments promptly

  4. Publication Discovery

    • Set up regular searches for your research area
    • Follow prolific authors in your field
    • Bookmark useful protocols
    • Cite protocols in publications

  5. Data Export

    • Export organization data regularly
    • Test restore procedures
    • Store exports securely
    • Document export procedures