Notes on ACS API Variable Formats
API Variable Format
ACS API Variables have the following format:
Summary File
Variable format: [Table ID] [Row Number] [Variable Type]
Figure 1: Visual representation of B01001_001E from data.census.gov
Example: Variable B01001_001E (api.census.gov/data/2015/acs/acs5/variables/B01001_001E.json?key=?key=YOUR_KEY_GOES_HERE), “Total:”, represents the estimate for table B01001 row number 1.
Subject Tables
Variable format: [Table ID] [Column Number] [Row Number] [Variable Type]
Figure 2: Visual representation of S0101_C02_001E from data.census.gov
Example: Variable S0101_C02_001E (api.census.gov/data/2015/acs/acs5/subject/variables/S0101_C02_001E.json?key=YOUR_KEY_GOES_HERE), “Male!!Total population”, represents the estimate for table S0101, column number 2 (Male), row number 1.
Data Profiles
Variable format: [Table ID] [Row Number] [Variable Type]
Figure 3: Visual representation of DP02_0002PE from data.census.gov
Example: Variable DP02_0002PE (api.census.gov/data/2015/acs/acs5/profile/variables/DP02_0002PE.json?key=YOUR_KEY_GOES_HERE), “Family households (families)”, represents the percent estimate for table DP02 row number 2.
Comparison Profiles
Variable format: [Table ID] [Data Year] [Row Number] [Variable Type]
Figure 4: Visual Representation of CP02_2011_2015_002E from data.census.gov
Example: Variable CP02_2011_2015_002E (api.census.gov/data/2015/acs/acs5/cprofile/variables/CP02_2011_2015_002E.json?key=YOUR_KEY_GOES_HERE),”Family households (families)”, represents the estimate for table CP02, data year 2011-2015, row number 2.