Help Center API

Published help-center articles, categories, full-text search, branding, and visitor support tickets on your hosted portal Base path: /api/v1/public/help Endpoint count: 8

title: “Errors worth branching on” description: “Per-endpoint failure templates matching the envelope — what actually fires, what to retry, what to surface to the operator.”

Errors worth branching on

These five failures cover the article fetch (GET /api/v1/help-center/articles/), on every docs-embed hit from the widget. Each block below is a full { error, meta } envelope as the API returns it, and the matrix at the bottom answers retry vs surface for the same five classes. For the platform-wide decision table these branches plug into, see the error handling guide.

401 — Unauthorized

  {
    "error": {
      "code": "UNAUTHORIZED",
      "message": "The API key is invalid, expired, or lacks the required scope.",
      "status": 401
    },
    "meta": {
      "request_id": "req_helpcenta1",
      "timestamp": "2026-09-03T12:00:00Z"
    }
  }

A 401 on this page is the bearer key failing before the route ran — it never means the resource is wrong. Rotate the key or re-mint the scoped token; retrying the same request changes nothing.

403 — Forbidden

  {
    "error": {
      "code": "FORBIDDEN",
      "message": "The key is valid but does not have the scope this operation requires.",
      "status": 403
    },
    "meta": {
      "request_id": "req_helpcenta1f",
      "timestamp": "2026-09-03T12:00:00Z"
    }
  }

A 403 means the key authenticated but the operation is gated by scope — check the key’s scopes on the developer page; a 403 is never a data-not-found shape.

422 — Schema

  {
    "error": {
      "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
      "message": "The request failed input validation.",
      "status": 422,
      "details": { "field": "collection_slug", "value": "BILLING", "expected": "a lower-case kebab-case slug from GET /api/v1/help-center/collections" }
    },
    "meta": {
      "request_id": "req_helpcentb2",
      "timestamp": "2026-09-03T12:00:00Z"
    }
  }

A 422 means the payload did not match the request schema — branch on error.details.field and resend with the nearest published slug or the fallback collection landing instead of blind-retrying the same body.

429 — Rate

  {
    "error": {
      "code": "RATE_LIMITED",
      "message": "Too many requests in the current window.",
      "status": 429,
      "details": { "retry_after": 12 }
    },
    "meta": {
      "request_id": "req_helpcentc3",
      "timestamp": "2026-09-03T12:00:00Z",
      "docs_url": "https://docs.orbit.devotel.io/errors/RATE_LIMITED"
    }
  }

The Retry-After header and error.details.retry_after are both set on every 429 — resend the SAME request after the lower of the two.

404 — Not found

  {
    "error": {
      "code": "HELP_ARTICLE_NOT_FOUND",
      "message": "No published article exists with this slug.",
      "status": 404,
      "details": { "slug": "billing.wholesale", "nearest_published_slug": "billing" }
    },
    "meta": {
      "request_id": "req_helpcentd4",
      "timestamp": "2026-09-03T12:00:00Z"
    }
  }

Surface the human slug suggestion; never retry on a 404.

60-second retry matrix

Class	Meaning	Branch response
401 `UNAUTHORIZED`	the bearer key itself fails	Surface. Rotate the key or re-mint the scoped token; do not retry the same request.
403 `FORBIDDEN`	the key lacks this operation’s scope	Surface. Fix the key’s scope set; a retry with the same key never heals it.
422 `VALIDATION_ERROR`	the payload does not match the schema	Fix, then resend intentionally. Branch on `error.details.field`; a blind retry repeats the same 422.
429 `RATE_LIMITED`	the window quota is exhausted	Retry after `error.details.retry_after` (or the `Retry-After` header) with the same request body.
`HELP_ARTICLE_NOT_FOUND` (404 not found)	page-specific gating	Branch on `error.code`. Surface the human slug suggestion; never retry on a 404.

List public help-center articles

GET /api/v1/public/help/articles

Returns a tenant’s published, public help-center articles for the organization named by the org query parameter. Optionally filter by category and section slug and sort by recent (default) or most-viewed. Each item carries the article slug, title, summary, last-updated time, and view count. Use it to render the help-center article index.

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Get a public help-center article

GET /api/v1/public/help/articles/{slug}

Returns a single published, public help-center article by slug for the organization named by the org query parameter, and records a view. The response includes the article title, summary, markdown body, timestamps, and view count. An unknown, unpublished, or private slug returns 404.

string

required

—

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/articles/launch-assistant');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Get public help-center branding

GET /api/v1/public/help/branding

Returns the public-safe help-center branding for the organization named by the org query parameter: the logo, primary and secondary colours, header links, and whether the Orbit credit is shown. Unset fields fall back to the platform default theme. The help-center pages read this once on load to apply the tenant’s white-label look.

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/branding');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

List public help-center categories

GET /api/v1/public/help/categories

Returns the public help-center taxonomy tree for the organization named by the org query parameter: every public category with its nested public sections and a rolled-up count of visible articles. The help-center navigation reads this to render its “browse by topic” grouping.

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/categories');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Search public help-center articles

GET /api/v1/public/help/search

Full-text search across a tenant’s published, public help-center articles for the organization named by the org query parameter. Pass the search terms in q; title matches rank ahead of body matches. Use it to power the help-center search box so a visitor can self-serve before opening a ticket.

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/search');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Get public help-center ticket status

GET /api/v1/public/help/tickets/{id}

Returns the status and public reply thread for a help-center ticket the visitor opened, authorised by the capability token from the submission receipt plus the org query parameter. Lets an unauthenticated visitor track a request without a dashboard account; a bad token, unknown org, or unknown ticket all return the same 404.

string

required

—

cURL

curl -X GET "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" 

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
  },
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
r = requests.get("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3", headers=headers)
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3", nil)
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))

	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3')
req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']


res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets/num_8fb2d1b7c00c4ec9a1d3f5e7b9c1d3');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),

]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Submit help-center article feedback

POST /api/v1/public/help/feedback

Records a visitor’s “was this helpful?” vote, with an optional comment, against a published, public help-center article for the organization named in the body. The visitor IP is hashed, never stored raw. Use it to capture article-level helpfulness signals from the public help center.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{}'

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({}),
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
headers["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
r = requests.post("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback", headers=headers, json={})
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback", bytes.NewBuffer([]byte(`{}`)))
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))
	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback')
req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']
req['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
req.body = {}.to_json
res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/feedback');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'POST');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),
  'Content-Type: application/json',
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, <<<JSON
{}
JSON);
echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

Open a public help-center support ticket

POST /api/v1/public/help/tickets

Lets an unauthenticated help-center visitor open a support ticket for the organization named in the body, with a subject, message, contact email, and the slugs of any articles they read first. Use it when a visitor cannot self-serve via articles and needs to reach support before signing in.

cURL

curl -X POST "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets" \
  -H "X-API-Key: dv_live_sk_your_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{}'

Node.js

import { Orbit } from '@devotel-orbit/node'

const orbit = new Orbit({
  apiKey: process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
})

const res = await fetch('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': process.env.ORBIT_API_KEY!,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({}),
})
console.log(await res.json())

Python

import os, requests

headers = {"X-API-Key": os.environ["ORBIT_API_KEY"]}
headers["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
r = requests.post("https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets", headers=headers, json={})
print(r.json())

package main

import (
	"bytes"
	"net/http"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets", bytes.NewBuffer([]byte(`{}`)))
	req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", os.Getenv("ORBIT_API_KEY"))
	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
	http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
}

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets')
req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
req['X-API-Key'] = ENV['ORBIT_API_KEY']
req['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
req.body = {}.to_json
res = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, use_ssl: true) { |h| h.request(req) }
puts res.body

PHP

<?php
$ch = curl_init('https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/public/help/tickets');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'POST');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
  'X-API-Key: ' . getenv('ORBIT_API_KEY'),
  'Content-Type: application/json',
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, <<<JSON
{}
JSON);
echo curl_exec($ch);

{}

API Reference

All Endpoints

Help Center API

Help Center API

title: “Errors worth branching on” description: “Per-endpoint failure templates matching the envelope — what actually fires, what to retry, what to surface to the operator.”

Errors worth branching on

401 — Unauthorized

403 — Forbidden

422 — Schema

429 — Rate

404 — Not found

60-second retry matrix

List public help-center articles

Get a public help-center article

Get public help-center branding

List public help-center categories

Search public help-center articles

Get public help-center ticket status

Submit help-center article feedback

Open a public help-center support ticket

​Help Center API

​title: “Errors worth branching on” description: “Per-endpoint failure templates matching the envelope — what actually fires, what to retry, what to surface to the operator.”

​Errors worth branching on

​401 — Unauthorized

​403 — Forbidden

​422 — Schema

​429 — Rate

​404 — Not found

​60-second retry matrix

​List public help-center articles

​Get a public help-center article

​Get public help-center branding

​List public help-center categories

​Search public help-center articles

​Get public help-center ticket status

​Submit help-center article feedback

​Open a public help-center support ticket

Help Center API

title: “Errors worth branching on” description: “Per-endpoint failure templates matching the envelope — what actually fires, what to retry, what to surface to the operator.”

Errors worth branching on

401 — Unauthorized

403 — Forbidden

422 — Schema

429 — Rate

404 — Not found

60-second retry matrix

List public help-center articles

Get a public help-center article

Get public help-center branding

List public help-center categories

Search public help-center articles

Get public help-center ticket status

Submit help-center article feedback

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