# Mochavi Payloads

> Free sample data files with fictional users, projects and tasks in JSON, XML, CSV, YAML, NDJSON, plain text, HTML, MessagePack, CBOR and PDF. Fixed versioned URLs, no account or API key, CORS enabled, CC0 data.

Every v1 file is a static asset whose bytes never change, and the manifest lists the media type, byte size and SHA-256 of each one. Payloads is not a fake REST API. It has no writes, query parameters, pagination or authentication.

## Use it in code

- Collection URL: https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/{resource}.{extension}
- Record URL: https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/{resource}/{id}.{extension}
- Resources and IDs: users (1, 2, 3), projects (101, 102), tasks (1001, 1002, 1003)
- Extensions: json, xml, csv, yaml, ndjson, txt, html, msgpack, cbor
- PDF file: https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/files/pdf/dataset-summary.pdf
- JSON Schema: https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/schemas/dataset.schema.json
- Manifest with SHA-256 for every file: https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/manifest.json
- Methods: GET and HEAD. CORS allows every origin. Query parameters change nothing. Unknown or unversioned paths return 404.
- Example: `curl -fsS https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/users.json`
- [Guide for coding agents](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/coding-agents): curl, fetch, pytest and Vitest snippets plus a block for AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md

## Start here

- [Documentation](https://payloads.mochavi.com/): Product overview, formats and quick-start examples
- [Payload explorer](https://payloads.mochavi.com/explorer): Browse and inspect every published endpoint
- [Asset manifest](https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/manifest.json): Paths, media types, byte sizes and SHA-256 checksums
- [Dataset schema](https://payloads.mochavi.com/v1/schemas/dataset.schema.json): Canonical JSON Schema
- [Licensing](https://payloads.mochavi.com/licensing): CC0 payload data and MIT source terms
- [Practical guides](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides): Deterministic fixtures, parser testing, file downloads and prototypes
- [Comparisons](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare): Honest boundaries against popular fake API and HTTP testing tools
- [Markdown sitemap](https://payloads.mochavi.com/sitemap.md): Machine-readable index of every canonical page mirror

## Format guides

- [JSON](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/json): The canonical object shape with familiar browser support.
- [XML](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/xml): Typed elements for XML parsers and integration tests.
- [CSV](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/csv): Flat rows for spreadsheets, data tools and simple imports.
- [YAML](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/yaml): Readable structured data that preserves canonical scalar types.
- [NDJSON](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/ndjson): One JSON record per line for streams and line-oriented tools.
- [Plain text](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/text): Readable key and value sections with no parser required.
- [HTML](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/html): A readable table that opens directly in a browser.
- [MessagePack](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/messagePack): A compact binary object format for transport and decoder tests.
- [CBOR](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/cbor): A compact binary representation with native scalar types.
- [PDF](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/pdf): A deterministic one-page document for file handling tests.
- [JSON Schema](https://payloads.mochavi.com/formats/json-schema): A machine-readable contract for validating the canonical dataset.

## Guides and comparisons

- [Stable Test Fixtures for AI Coding Agents](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/coding-agents): Give your coding agent fixed sample data URLs instead of letting it write fixtures from memory. A v1 Payloads file never changes and has a published SHA-256, so the tests it writes stay reproducible.
- [Deterministic API Fixtures for Reliable Automated Tests](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/deterministic-api-fixtures): A practical pattern for using stable public fixture URLs in repeatable client and parser tests.
- [Test the Same Data Across JSON, XML and CSV](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/same-test-data-json-xml-csv): Use one canonical users, projects and tasks dataset across formats to test conversions and parser consistency.
- [Test File Downloads with Stable Public URLs](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/test-file-downloads): Exercise real HTTP downloads without generating throwaway files or depending on a stateful fixture service.
- [Test an NDJSON Parser with a Stable Sample File](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/ndjson-parser-testing): A repeatable way to exercise NDJSON parsing without generating input during the test.
- [Test MessagePack and CBOR Decoders with Known Data](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/messagepack-cbor-decoder-testing): Known binary inputs for testing buffers, media types, scalar preservation and decoder interoperability.
- [Prototype a Frontend with Stable Sample Data](https://payloads.mochavi.com/guides/frontend-prototype-test-data): A minimal fixture-data pattern for prototypes that should not depend on a dynamic fake API.
- [Payloads vs JSONPlaceholder](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/jsonplaceholder): Payloads is a JSONPlaceholder alternative when your code only reads data and you need more formats than JSON or exact bytes you can pin. Keep JSONPlaceholder when your code sends POST, PUT, PATCH or DELETE requests or needs its larger resources.
- [Payloads vs DummyJSON](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/dummyjson): Payloads replaces DummyJSON only when you need a few known records in more formats than JSON, with bytes you can pin. For product, cart and recipe data, pagination, search, login or delays, DummyJSON is the better fit.
- [Payloads vs ReqRes](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/reqres): Payloads replaces ReqRes only for reading sample records. ReqRes is a hosted REST API with demo login and register endpoints, pagination, delays and, with an API key, data that persists between requests.
- [Payloads vs httpbin](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/httpbin): Payloads does not replace httpbin. httpbin tests how your client handles HTTP itself, while Payloads gives it known response bodies and files to decode.
- [Payloads vs Mockaroo](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/mockaroo): Payloads replaces Mockaroo only when a small fixed dataset is enough. Mockaroo generates custom realistic data and mock APIs, while Payloads serves the same small files to everyone with no account or key.
- [Payloads vs Sample File Download Sites](https://payloads.mochavi.com/compare/sample-file-sites): Sample file sites have far more formats and sizes than Payloads, including images, video, audio, office documents and multi-megabyte files. Payloads has a few small data files, but every one has a fixed URL, a published SHA-256, open CORS and a CC0 licence.

## Detailed reference

- [Full machine-readable guide](https://payloads.mochavi.com/llms-full.txt): Contract, formats and every endpoint