Demo Using Ollama API and Interacting With It

In our previous guide, we covered how to use the Ollama CLI. Ollama also exposes a REST API when you run ollama surf. This tutorial walks through each endpoint—showing request examples, sample responses, and best practices for integrating Ollama’s local LLMs into your applications.

1. Starting the Ollama REST Server

Launch the API server on your machine:

ollama surf

You should see logs like:

time=2025-01-24T12:23:14.335+05:30 level=INFO source=images.go:439 msg="total unused blobs removed: 0"
[GIN-debug] POST      /api/generate   --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).GenerateHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] POST      /api/chat       --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).ChatHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] POST      /api/embeddings --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).EmbedHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] POST      /api/copy       --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).CopyHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] DELETE    /api/delete     --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).DeleteHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] GET       /api/show       --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).ShowHandler-fm (5 handlers)
[GIN-debug] GET       /api/ps         --> github.com/ollama/ollama/server.(*Server).PSHandler-fm (6 handlers)
time=2025-01-24T12:23:14.337+05:30 level=INFO source=routes.go:1238 msg="Listening on 127.0.0.1:11434 (version 0.5.7)"

All endpoints are now accessible at http://localhost:11434.

2. Generating a Single Completion

Send a one-shot prompt to /api/generate:

curl http://localhost:11434/api/generate \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "llama3.2",
    "prompt": "Compose a poem on LLMs",
    "stream": false
  }'

Pipe the response through jq for pretty-printed JSON:

… | jq

Example response:

{
  "model": "llama3.2",
  "created_at": "2025-01-24T06:55:54.169563Z",
  "response": "In silicon halls, a mind is born,\na language model, with knowledge sworn,…",
  "done": true,
  "done_reason": "stop",
  "context": [128006, 9125, 128007, 271, 38766, 1303, …],
  "total_duration": 57511115875,
  "load_duration": 20878833,
  "prompt_eval_count": 32,
  "prompt_eval_duration": 1370000000,
  "eval_count": 279,
  "eval_duration": 5591000000
}

Key fields:

response: Generated text.
done / done_reason: Completion status.
context: Token IDs consumed.
Timing metrics: Diagnose performance.

3. Streaming Tokens

To receive tokens as they’re generated, enable streaming:

curl http://localhost:11434/api/generate \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "llama3.2",
    "prompt": "Compose a poem on LLMs",
    "stream": true
  }'

The server emits incremental JSON chunks:

{"model":"llama3.2","response":"In","done":false}
{"model":"llama3.2","response":" silicon","done":false}
…
{"model":"llama3.2","response":"","done":true,"done_reason":"stop","context":[128006,9125,…]}

Use streaming for real-time UIs or chat interfaces.

4. Enforcing a JSON Schema

Require a structured output by defining a JSON schema in the format field:

curl -X POST http://localhost:11434/api/generate \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "llama3.2",
    "prompt": "Compose a JSON object that describes a poetic story of an LLM exploring the universe of language.",
    "stream": false,
    "format": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "title": {"type": "string"},
        "theme": {"type": "string"},
        "lines": {
          "type": "array",
          "items": {"type": "string"}
        }
      },
      "required": ["title", "theme", "lines"]
    }
  }' | jq

Sample response:

{
  "model": "llama3.2",
  "created_at": "2025-01-24T07:00:58.138378Z",
  "response": {
    "title": "Cosmic Odyssey",
    "theme": "Language Exploration",
    "lines": [
      "In silicon halls, I wandered free",
      "A sea of symbols, my destiny",
      "I danced with words in celestial harmony",
      "As linguistic rivers, flowed through me"
    ]
  },
  "done": true,
  "done_reason": "stop"
}

Ideal for applications expecting strict data structures.

5. Multi-Turn Chat Conversations

Use /api/chat to maintain context across messages:

curl http://localhost:11434/api/chat \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "llama3.2",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user",      "content": "Compose a short poem about LLMs."},
      {"role": "assistant", "content": "In circuits vast, they find their spark,…"},
      {"role": "user",      "content": "Add alliteration for more impact."}
    ],
    "stream": false
  }' | jq

Example assistant reply:

{
  "model": "llama3.2",
  "created_at": "2025-01-24T07:03:07.634629Z",
  "message": {
    "role": "assistant",
    "content": "In circuitous caverns, code comes alive,\nLanguage learned in labyrinthine digital strife…"
  },
  "done": true,
  "done_reason": "stop"
}

6. Model Management Endpoints

You can list, copy, show, and delete models via REST:

Operation	Method	Endpoint	Description
List models	GET	/api/ps	Display all local models
Show model	GET	/api/show	Get metadata on a single model
Copy model	POST	/api/copy	Duplicate an existing model
Delete model	DELETE	/api/delete	Remove a model

Copy a Model

curl http://localhost:11434/api/copy \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "source": "llama3.2",
    "destination": "llama3-copy"
  }'

Verify in the CLI:

ollama ls
# NAME               ID              SIZE     MODIFIED
# llama3-copy:latest a80c4f17acd5  2.0 GB   a few seconds ago
# llama3.2:latest    a80c4f17acd5  2.0 GB   24 hours ago

Delete a Model

curl -X DELETE http://localhost:11434/api/delete \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "llama3-copy"
  }'

Pulling new models via the REST API is not supported. Use the CLI instead:

ollama pull llama3.2

7. API Reference & Further Reading

For the full list of endpoints, request/response specifications, and example payloads, see the Ollama API Documentation on GitHub.

The image shows a GitHub repository page with a focus on an API documentation file, listing various endpoints such as "Generate a completion" and "Create a Model."

Links and References

Getting Started With Ollama

Building AI Applications

Customising Models With Ollama

Introduction

Prerequisites

Demo Using Ollama API and Interacting With It

1. Starting the Ollama REST Server

2. Generating a Single Completion

3. Streaming Tokens

4. Enforcing a JSON Schema

5. Multi-Turn Chat Conversations

6. Model Management Endpoints

7. API Reference & Further Reading

Watch Video

Practice Lab

Getting Started With Ollama

Building AI Applications

Customising Models With Ollama

Introduction

Prerequisites

Documentation Index

​1. Starting the Ollama REST Server

​2. Generating a Single Completion

​3. Streaming Tokens

​4. Enforcing a JSON Schema

​5. Multi-Turn Chat Conversations

​6. Model Management Endpoints

​7. API Reference & Further Reading

Watch Video

Practice Lab

1. Starting the Ollama REST Server

2. Generating a Single Completion

3. Streaming Tokens

4. Enforcing a JSON Schema

5. Multi-Turn Chat Conversations

6. Model Management Endpoints

7. API Reference & Further Reading