The ISBNLab Book Database

More than 102.1M book edition records, keyed by ISBN and linked to their authors, publishers, subjects, genres and series. Look a book up on the site, or build on the same data through our REST and GraphQL API.

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What is a book database?

A book database is a catalog of published books in which each record describes one specific edition: its ISBN, title, authors, publisher, publication date, format and page count. The hardcover, the paperback and the ebook of the same book are separate editions with separate ISBNs, so a good book database keeps them apart and also knows they belong together.

Developers use one to fill in a product page from a scanned barcode, to catalog a collection, to match listings from different suppliers, or to answer questions about books with records instead of guesses. ISBNLab is a book database built for that kind of work: every record has the same shape, and every edition is reachable by ISBN-10, ISBN-13 or EAN.

What's in the database

102.1M

Edition Records

31.8M

Authors

Publishers

2.9M

Subjects

In each edition record, where available

ISBN-10, ISBN-13 and EAN, cross-converted
Title and subtitle
Authors, plus contributors with their roles
Publisher and imprint
Publication date, format, page count and dimensions
Language
BISAC genres and subjects
Series name and position
Every other edition of the same work

Ways to use it

Look up any book on its own page, or search by title, author or ISBN.
Validate and convert ISBNs with the free ISBN tools.
Query books, authors, publishers, subjects and genres through the REST API.
Ask for exactly the fields you need with GraphQL, on the Pro plan.

See a full record on the example book page.

Built for developers

Edition level

One record per edition, keyed by ISBN, so a barcode scan finds the exact book in your hand, not just its title.

Linked

Editions are grouped under their work, and series are kept in reading order, so you can move from one book to all of its versions.

One schema

Every record has the same shape, with cleaned titles, split subtitles and standardized dates, formats and languages.

Classified

BISAC genres and subject headings give every catalog, store or app a ready-made way to browse.

Book database FAQ

Yes. The Free plan includes 1,000 API calls a day for book lookups by ISBN and the ISBN tools. Paid plans add authors, publishers, subjects, genres, covers, search, other editions and GraphQL.

A book, or work, is the thing an author wrote. An edition is one published version of it, such as a hardcover, a paperback, an audiobook or a translation, and each edition gets its own ISBN. ISBNLab keeps a record for every edition and links the editions of a work together.

No. The database is served through the API, so you always query the current records. If you need more volume than the standard plans allow, contact us.

Training is arranged separately, with query volume sized to the project. See Book Metadata for LLM Training.

Tell us the ISBN and what's wrong. For removal requests, see DMCA and Removal Requests.

Start building with book data

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Related Articles from our Blog

How to Convert ISBN-10 to ISBN-13 (and Vice Versa): A Complete Guide

If you’re in the world of books-whether as a publisher, librarian, bookseller, or avid collector-you’ve likely come across the terms ISBN-10 and ISBN-13. Understanding these formats and knowing how to convert between them is essential for maintaining consistency and compatibility in book records. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ISBN conversions, step by step.

What is an EAN and How Does it Relate to an ISBN?

If you’ve ever purchased a product online or in a store, you’ve likely come across a barcode. Behind these barcodes lies a standardized system that makes modern commerce possible. Two key codes often encountered are the EAN (European Article Number) and ISBN (International Standard Book Number). But what are they, how are they connected, and why are they so crucial? Let’s explore.

Read the EAN and ISBN guide