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GET
/
backends
cURL
curl "https://api.ionq.co/v0.4/backends"
[
  {
    "average_queue_time": 1181215,
    "backend": "qpu.aria-1",
    "last_updated": "2025-06-16T00:00:00Z",
    "qubits": 25,
    "status": "<string>",
    "characterization_id": "617a1f8b-59d4-435d-aa33-695433d7155e",
    "degraded": true,
    "kw": 4902.81,
    "location": "College Park, MD, USA"
  }
]

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ionq.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

List all available backends including both QPUs and simulators. This shows each backend’s current status (available, unavailable, degraded), number of qubits, average queue time, and links to performance characterizations. Learn more about available backends.

Response

200 - application/json

Successfully retrieved backend.

​
average_queue_time
number<unix-timestamp>
required

Current wait time on the queue for execution.

Example:

1181215

​
backend
string
required

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"

​
last_updated
string
required

Last date time the backend status was updated.

Example:

"2025-06-16T00:00:00Z"

​
qubits
integer
required

The number of qubits available.

Required range: x >= 0
Example:

25

​
status
string
required

Current status of the backend: available, unavailable, retired.

​
characterization_id
string

Current characterization ID for this backend

Example:

"617a1f8b-59d4-435d-aa33-695433d7155e"

​
degraded
boolean

Flag to tell if the backend is degraded or not.

​
kw
number<double>

The amount of energy used by the backend in kilowatt-hours.

Example:

4902.81

​
location
string

The location of the backend.

Example:

"College Park, MD, USA"