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Merge request approvals API (STARTER)

Configuration for approvals on all Merge Requests (MR) in the project. Must be authenticated for all endpoints.

Project-level MR approvals

Get Configuration

Introduced in GitLab Starter 10.6.

You can request information about a project's approval configuration using the following endpoint:

GET /projects/:id/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project 
{
  "approvals_before_merge": 2,
  "reset_approvals_on_push": true,
  "disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request": false,
  "merge_requests_author_approval": true,
  "merge_requests_disable_committers_approval": false,
  "require_password_to_approve": true
}

Change configuration

Introduced in GitLab Starter 10.6.

If you are allowed to, you can change approval configuration using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
approvals_before_merge integer no How many approvals are required before an MR can be merged. Deprecated in 12.0 in favor of Approval Rules API.
reset_approvals_on_push boolean no Reset approvals on a new push
disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request boolean no Allow/Disallow overriding approvers per MR
merge_requests_author_approval boolean no Allow/Disallow authors from self approving merge requests; true means authors can self approve
merge_requests_disable_committers_approval boolean no Allow/Disallow committers from self approving merge requests
require_password_to_approve boolean no Require approver to enter a password in order to authenticate before adding the approval 
{
  "approvals_before_merge": 2,
  "reset_approvals_on_push": true,
  "disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request": false,
  "merge_requests_author_approval": false,
  "merge_requests_disable_committers_approval": false,
  "require_password_to_approve": true
}

Get project-level rules

You can request information about a project's approval rules using the following endpoint:

GET /projects/:id/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project 
[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "security",
    "rule_type": "regular",
    "eligible_approvers": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      },
      {
        "id": 50,
        "name": "Group Member 1",
        "username": "group_member_1",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
      }
    ],
    "approvals_required": 3,
    "users": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      }
    ],
    "groups": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    ],
    "protected_branches": [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "name": "master",
        "push_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 30,
            "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "merge_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 30,
            "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "unprotect_access_levels": [
          {
            "access_level": 40,
            "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
          }
        ],
        "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
      }
    ],
    "contains_hidden_groups": false
  }
]

Create project-level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can create project approval rules using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers
protected_branch_ids Array no (PREMIUM) The ids of protected branches to scope the rule by 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "protected_branches": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "master",
      "push_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "merge_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "unprotect_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 40,
          "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false
}

Update project-level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can update project approval rules using the following endpoint:

PUT /projects/:id/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Approvers and groups not in the users/groups parameters will be removed

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers
protected_branch_ids Array no (PREMIUM) The ids of protected branches to scope the rule by 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "protected_branches": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "master",
      "push_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "merge_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 30,
          "access_level_description": "Developers + Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "unprotect_access_levels": [
        {
          "access_level": 40,
          "access_level_description": "Maintainers"
        }
      ],
      "code_owner_approval_required": "false"
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false
}

Delete project-level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can delete project approval rules using the following endpoint:

DELETE /projects/:id/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule

Change allowed approvers

Introduced in GitLab Starter 10.6.

NOTE: Note: This API endpoint has been deprecated. Please use Approval Rule API instead.

If you are allowed to, you can change approvers and approver groups using the following endpoint:

PUT /projects/:id/approvers

Important: Approvers and groups not in the request will be removed

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
approver_ids Array yes An array of User IDs that can approve MRs
approver_group_ids Array yes An array of Group IDs whose members can approve MRs 
{
  "approvers": [
    {
      "user": {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe6",
        "username": "user5",
        "state":"active","avatar_url":"https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/4aea8cf834ed91844a2da4ff7ae6b491?s=80\u0026d=identicon","web_url":"http://localhost/user5"
      }
    }
  ],
  "approver_groups": [
    {
      "group": {
        "id": 1,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    }
  ],
  "approvals_before_merge": 2,
  "reset_approvals_on_push": true,
  "disable_overriding_approvers_per_merge_request": false,
  "merge_requests_author_approval": true,
  "merge_requests_disable_committers_approval": false,
  "require_password_to_approve": true
}

Merge Request-level MR approvals

Configuration for approvals on a specific Merge Request. Must be authenticated for all endpoints.

Get Configuration

Introduced in GitLab Starter 8.9.

You can request information about a merge request's approval status using the following endpoint:

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-08T21:20:42.470Z",
  "merge_status": "cannot_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 1,
  "approved_by": [
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Administrator",
        "username": "root",
        "id": 1,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e64c7d89f26bd1972efa854d13d7dd61?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/root"
      }
    }
  ],
}

Change approval configuration

Introduced in GitLab Starter 10.6.

If you are allowed to, you can change approvals_required using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approvals

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
approvals_required integer yes Approvals required before MR can be merged. Deprecated in 12.0 in favor of Approval Rules API. 
{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-08T21:20:42.470Z",
  "merge_status": "cannot_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 2,
  "approved_by": []
}

Change allowed approvers for Merge Request

Introduced in GitLab Starter 10.6.

NOTE: Note: This API endpoint has been deprecated. Please use Approval Rule API instead.

If you are allowed to, you can change approvers and approver groups using the following endpoint:

PUT /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approvers

Important: Approvers and groups not in the request will be removed

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
approver_ids Array yes An array of User IDs that can approve the MR
approver_group_ids Array yes An array of Group IDs whose members can approve the MR 
{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-08T21:20:42.470Z",
  "merge_status": "cannot_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 2,
  "approved_by": [],
  "approvers": [
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Administrator",
        "username": "root",
        "id": 1,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e64c7d89f26bd1972efa854d13d7dd61?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/root"
      }
    }
  ],
  "approver_groups": [
    {
      "group": {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    }
  ]
}

Get the approval state of merge requests

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can request information about a merge request's approval state by using the following endpoint:

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_state

The approval_rules_overwritten will be true if the merge request level rules are created for the merge request. If there's none, it'll be false.

This includes additional information about the users who have already approved (approved_by) and whether a rule is already approved (approved).

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
{
  "approval_rules_overwritten": true,
  "rules": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Ruby",
      "rule_type": "regular",
      "eligible_approvers": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "approvals_required": 2,
      "users": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "groups": [],
      "contains_hidden_groups": false,
      "approved_by": [
        {
          "id": 4,
          "name": "John Doe",
          "username": "jdoe",
          "state": "active",
          "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
          "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
        }
      ],
      "source_rule": null,
      "approved": true,
      "overridden": false
    }
  ]
}

Get merge request level rules

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can request information about a merge request's approval rules using the following endpoint:

GET /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR 
[
  {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "security",
    "rule_type": "regular",
    "eligible_approvers": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      },
      {
        "id": 50,
        "name": "Group Member 1",
        "username": "group_member_1",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
      }
    ],
    "approvals_required": 3,
    "source_rule": null,
    "users": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "John Doe",
        "username": "jdoe",
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
      }
    ],
    "groups": [
      {
        "id": 5,
        "name": "group1",
        "path": "group1",
        "description": "",
        "visibility": "public",
        "lfs_enabled": false,
        "avatar_url": null,
        "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
        "request_access_enabled": false,
        "full_name": "group1",
        "full_path": "group1",
        "parent_id": null,
        "ldap_cn": null,
        "ldap_access": null
      }
    ],
    "contains_hidden_groups": false,
    "overridden": false
  }
]

Create merge request level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can create merge request approval rules using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
approval_project_rule_id integer no The ID of a project-level approval rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers

Important: When approval_project_rule_id is set, the name, users and groups of project-level rule will be copied. The approvals_required specified will be used.

{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "source_rule": null,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false,
  "overridden": false
}

Update merge request level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can update merge request approval rules using the following endpoint:

PUT /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Approvers and groups not in the users/groups parameters will be removed

Important: Updating a report_approver or code_owner rule is not allowed. These are system generated rules.

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The ID of MR
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule
name string yes The name of the approval rule
approvals_required integer yes The number of required approvals for this rule
user_ids Array no The ids of users as approvers
group_ids Array no The ids of groups as approvers 
{
  "id": 1,
  "name": "security",
  "rule_type": "regular",
  "eligible_approvers": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    },
    {
      "id": 50,
      "name": "Group Member 1",
      "username": "group_member_1",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/group_member_1"
    }
  ],
  "approvals_required": 1,
  "source_rule": null,
  "users": [
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "username": "jdoe",
      "state": "active",
      "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/0?s=80&d=identicon",
      "web_url": "http://localhost/jdoe"
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "group1",
      "path": "group1",
      "description": "",
      "visibility": "public",
      "lfs_enabled": false,
      "avatar_url": null,
      "web_url": "http://localhost/groups/group1",
      "request_access_enabled": false,
      "full_name": "group1",
      "full_path": "group1",
      "parent_id": null,
      "ldap_cn": null,
      "ldap_access": null
    }
  ],
  "contains_hidden_groups": false,
  "overridden": false
}

Delete merge request level rule

Introduced in GitLab Starter 12.3.

You can delete merge request approval rules using the following endpoint:

DELETE /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approval_rules/:approval_rule_id

Important: Deleting a report_approver or code_owner rule is not allowed. These are system generated rules.

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The ID of MR
approval_rule_id integer yes The ID of a approval rule

Approve Merge Request

Introduced in GitLab Starter 8.9.

If you are allowed to, you can approve a merge request using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/approve

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR
sha string no The HEAD of the MR
approval_password (STARTER) string no Current user's password. Required if Require user password to approve is enabled in the project settings.

The sha parameter works in the same way as when accepting a merge request: if it is passed, then it must match the current HEAD of the merge request for the approval to be added. If it does not match, the response code will be 409.

{
  "id": 5,
  "iid": 5,
  "project_id": 1,
  "title": "Approvals API",
  "description": "Test",
  "state": "opened",
  "created_at": "2016-06-08T00:19:52.638Z",
  "updated_at": "2016-06-09T21:32:14.105Z",
  "merge_status": "can_be_merged",
  "approvals_required": 2,
  "approvals_left": 0,
  "approved_by": [
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Administrator",
        "username": "root",
        "id": 1,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e64c7d89f26bd1972efa854d13d7dd61?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/root"
      }
    },
    {
      "user": {
        "name": "Nico Cartwright",
        "username": "ryley",
        "id": 2,
        "state": "active",
        "avatar_url": "http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/cf7ad14b34162a76d593e3affca2adca?s=80\u0026d=identicon",
        "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/ryley"
      }
    }
  ],
}

Unapprove Merge Request

Introduced in GitLab Starter 9.0.

If you did approve a merge request, you can unapprove it using the following endpoint:

POST /projects/:id/merge_requests/:merge_request_iid/unapprove

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes The ID of a project
merge_request_iid integer yes The IID of MR