Skip to content

Epic Issues API

DETAILS: Tier: Premium, Ultimate Offering: GitLab.com, Self-managed, GitLab Dedicated

WARNING: The Epics REST API was deprecated in GitLab 17.0 and is planned for removal in v5 of the API. In GitLab 17.4 or later, if your administrator enabled the new look for epics, use the Work Items API instead. For more information, see the guide how to migrate your existing APIs. This change is a breaking change.

Every API call to the epic issues API endpoint must be authenticated.

If a user is not a member of a group and the group is private, a GET request on that group results in a 404 status code.

Epics are available only in GitLab Premium and Ultimate. If the Epics feature is not available, a 403 status code is returned.

Epic Issues pagination

API results are paginated. Requests that return multiple issues default to returning 20 results at a time.

List issues for an epic

Gets all issues that are assigned to an epic and the authenticated user has access to.

GET /groups/:id/epics/:epic_iid/issues
Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of the group
epic_iid integer/string yes The internal ID of the epic.
curl --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/1/epics/5/issues/"

Example response:

[
  {
    "id": 76,
    "iid": 6,
    "project_id": 8,
    "title" : "Consequatur vero maxime deserunt laboriosam est voluptas dolorem.",
    "description" : "Ratione dolores corrupti mollitia soluta quia.",
    "state": "opened",
    "created_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:24.670Z",
    "updated_at": "2018-01-04T10:49:19.506Z",
    "closed_at": null,
    "labels": [],
    "milestone": {
      "id": 38,
      "iid": 3,
      "project_id": 8,
      "title": "v2.0",
      "description": "In tempore culpa inventore quo accusantium.",
      "state": "closed",
      "created_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:13.825Z",
      "updated_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:13.825Z",
      "due_date": null,
      "start_date": null
    },
    "assignees": [{
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    }],
    "assignee": {
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    },
    "author": {
      "id": 13,
      "name": "Michell Johns",
      "username": "chris_hahn",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/30e3b2122ccd6b8e45e8e14a3ffb58fc?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/chris_hahn"
    },
    "user_notes_count": 8,
    "upvotes": 0,
    "downvotes": 0,
    "due_date": null,
    "confidential": false,
    "weight": null,
    "discussion_locked": null,
    "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/h5bp/html5-boilerplate/issues/6",
    "time_stats": {
      "time_estimate": 0,
      "total_time_spent": 0,
      "human_time_estimate": null,
      "human_total_time_spent": null
    },
    "_links":{
      "self": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6",
      "notes": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6/notes",
      "award_emoji": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6/award_emoji",
      "project": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8"
    },
    "epic_issue_id": 2
  }
]

Note: assignee column is deprecated, now we show it as a single-sized array assignees to conform to the GitLab EE API.

Assign an issue to the epic

Creates an epic - issue association. If the issue in question belongs to another epic it is unassigned from that epic.

POST /groups/:id/epics/:epic_iid/issues/:issue_id
Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of the group
epic_iid integer/string yes The internal ID of the epic.
issue_id integer/string yes The ID of the issue.
curl --header POST "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/1/epics/5/issues/55"

Example response:

{
  "id": 11,
  "epic": {
    "id": 30,
    "iid": 5,
    "title": "Ea cupiditate dolores ut vero consequatur quasi veniam voluptatem et non.",
    "description": "Molestias dolorem eos vitae expedita impedit necessitatibus quo voluptatum.",
    "author": {
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    },
    "start_date": null,
    "end_date": null
  },
  "issue": {
    "id": 55,
    "iid": 13,
    "project_id": 8,
    "title": "Beatae laborum voluptatem voluptate eligendi ex accusamus.",
    "description": "Quam veritatis debitis omnis aliquam sit.",
    "state": "opened",
    "created_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.782Z",
    "updated_at": "2018-01-05T10:33:03.900Z",
    "closed_at": null,
    "labels": [],
    "milestone": {
      "id": 48,
      "iid": 6,
      "project_id": 8,
      "title": "Sprint - Sed sed maxime temporibus ipsa ullam qui sit.",
      "description": "Quos veritatis qui expedita sunt deleniti accusamus.",
      "state": "active",
      "created_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.445Z",
      "updated_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.445Z",
      "due_date": "2017-11-13",
      "start_date": "2017-11-05"
    },
    "assignees": [{
      "id": 10,
      "name": "Lu Mayer",
      "username": "kam",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/018729e129a6f31c80a6327a30196823?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/kam"
    }],
    "assignee": {
      "id": 10,
      "name": "Lu Mayer",
      "username": "kam",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/018729e129a6f31c80a6327a30196823?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/kam"
    },
    "author": {
      "id": 25,
      "name": "User 3",
      "username": "user3",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/97d6d9441ff85fdc730e02a6068d267b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/user3"
    },
    "user_notes_count": 0,
    "upvotes": 0,
    "downvotes": 0,
    "due_date": null,
    "confidential": false,
    "weight": null,
    "discussion_locked": null,
    "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/h5bp/html5-boilerplate/issues/13",
    "time_stats": {
      "time_estimate": 0,
      "total_time_spent": 0,
      "human_time_estimate": null,
      "human_total_time_spent": null
    }
  }
}

Note: assignee column is deprecated, now we show it as a single-sized array assignees to conform to the GitLab EE API.

Remove an issue from the epic

Removes an epic - issue association.

DELETE /groups/:id/epics/:epic_iid/issues/:epic_issue_id
Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of the group
epic_iid integer/string yes The internal ID of the epic.
epic_issue_id integer/string yes The ID of the issue - epic association.
curl --header DELETE "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/1/epics/5/issues/11"

Example response:

{
  "id": 11,
  "epic": {
    "id": 30,
    "iid": 5,
    "title": "Ea cupiditate dolores ut vero consequatur quasi veniam voluptatem et non.",
    "description": "Molestias dolorem eos vitae expedita impedit necessitatibus quo voluptatum.",
    "author": {
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    },
    "start_date": null,
    "end_date": null
  },
  "issue": {
    "id": 223,
    "iid": 13,
    "project_id": 8,
    "title": "Beatae laborum voluptatem voluptate eligendi ex accusamus.",
    "description": "Quam veritatis debitis omnis aliquam sit.",
    "state": "opened",
    "created_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.782Z",
    "updated_at": "2018-01-05T10:33:03.900Z",
    "closed_at": null,
    "labels": [],
    "milestone": {
      "id": 48,
      "iid": 6,
      "project_id": 8,
      "title": "Sprint - Sed sed maxime temporibus ipsa ullam qui sit.",
      "description": "Quos veritatis qui expedita sunt deleniti accusamus.",
      "state": "active",
      "created_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.445Z",
      "updated_at": "2017-11-05T13:59:12.445Z",
      "due_date": "2017-11-13",
      "start_date": "2017-11-05"
    },
    "assignees": [{
      "id": 10,
      "name": "Lu Mayer",
      "username": "kam",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/018729e129a6f31c80a6327a30196823?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/kam"
    }],
    "assignee": {
      "id": 10,
      "name": "Lu Mayer",
      "username": "kam",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/018729e129a6f31c80a6327a30196823?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/kam"
    },
    "author": {
      "id": 25,
      "name": "User 3",
      "username": "user3",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/97d6d9441ff85fdc730e02a6068d267b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/user3"
    },
    "user_notes_count": 0,
    "upvotes": 0,
    "downvotes": 0,
    "due_date": null,
    "confidential": false,
    "weight": null,
    "discussion_locked": null,
    "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/h5bp/html5-boilerplate/issues/13",
    "time_stats": {
      "time_estimate": 0,
      "total_time_spent": 0,
      "human_time_estimate": null,
      "human_total_time_spent": null
    }
  }
}

Note: assignee column is deprecated, now we show it as a single-sized array assignees to conform to the GitLab EE API.

Update epic - issue association

Updates an epic - issue association.

PUT /groups/:id/epics/:epic_iid/issues/:epic_issue_id
Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes The ID or URL-encoded path of the group
epic_iid integer/string yes The internal ID of the epic.
epic_issue_id integer/string yes The ID of the issue - epic association.
move_before_id integer/string no The ID of the issue - epic association that should be placed before the link in the question.
move_after_id integer/string no The ID of the issue - epic association that should be placed after the link in the question.
curl --header PUT "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/1/epics/5/issues/11?move_before_id=20"

Example response:

[
  {
    "id": 30,
    "iid": 6,
    "project_id": 8,
    "title" : "Consequatur vero maxime deserunt laboriosam est voluptas dolorem.",
    "description" : "Ratione dolores corrupti mollitia soluta quia.",
    "state": "opened",
    "created_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:24.670Z",
    "updated_at": "2018-01-04T10:49:19.506Z",
    "closed_at": null,
    "labels": [],
    "milestone": {
      "id": 38,
      "iid": 3,
      "project_id": 8,
      "title": "v2.0",
      "description": "In tempore culpa inventore quo accusantium.",
      "state": "closed",
      "created_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:13.825Z",
      "updated_at": "2017-11-15T13:39:13.825Z",
      "due_date": null,
      "start_date": null
    },
    "assignees": [{
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    }],
    "assignee": {
      "id": 7,
      "name": "Pamella Huel",
      "username": "arnita",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2f5c6fcef64c9c69cb8779cb292be1b?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/arnita"
    },
    "author": {
      "id": 13,
      "name": "Michell Johns",
      "username": "chris_hahn",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/30e3b2122ccd6b8e45e8e14a3ffb58fc?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/chris_hahn"
    },
    "user_notes_count": 8,
    "upvotes": 0,
    "downvotes": 0,
    "due_date": null,
    "confidential": false,
    "weight": null,
    "discussion_locked": null,
    "web_url": "http://localhost:3001/h5bp/html5-boilerplate/issues/6",
    "time_stats": {
      "time_estimate": 0,
      "total_time_spent": 0,
      "human_time_estimate": null,
      "human_total_time_spent": null
    },
    "_links":{
      "self": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6",
      "notes": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6/notes",
      "award_emoji": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8/issues/6/award_emoji",
      "project": "http://localhost:3001/api/v4/projects/8"
    },
    "subscribed": true,
    "epic_issue_id": 11,
    "relative_position": 55
  }
]