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> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.sarvam.ai/llms.txt.
> For full documentation content in one file, see https://docs.sarvam.ai/llms-full.txt.
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# Language Identification API

> Identifies the language and script of input text, supporting multiple Indian languages. Automatic detection with confidence scores for multilingual text processing.

## Overview

The Language Identification (LID) API identifies the language (e.g., en-IN, hi-IN) and script (e.g., Latin, Devanagari) of the input text. It supports multiple Indian languages and scripts, making it ideal for multilingual text processing.

## Detection Types

#### Single Language

Detect the primary language and script of text input. Example: "Hello, how are you?" → language: en-IN, script: Latn

#### Auto Detection

Automatic language detection for seamless integration with translation and preprocessing APIs.

## Code Examples

#### Python

```python
from sarvamai import SarvamAI

client = SarvamAI(
    api_subscription_key="YOUR_SARVAM_API_KEY"
)

response = client.text.identify_language(
    input="Hello, how are you?"
)

print(f"Request ID: {response.request_id}")
print(f"Language Code: {response.language_code}")  # Output: en-IN
print(f"Script Code: {response.script_code}")      # Output: Latn
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
import { SarvamAIClient } from "sarvamai";

const client = new SarvamAIClient({
    apiSubscriptionKey: "YOUR_SARVAM_API_KEY"
});

const response = await client.text.identifyLanguage({
    input: "Hello, how are you?"
});

console.log(`Request ID: ${response.request_id}`);
console.log(`Language Code: ${response.language_code}`);  // Output: en-IN
console.log(`Script Code: ${response.script_code}`);      // Output: Latn
```

#### cURL

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sarvam.ai/text-lid \
  -H "api-subscription-key: <YOUR_SARVAM_API_KEY>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "input": "Hello, how are you?"
  }'

# Response:
# {
#   "request_id": "abc123",
#   "language_code": "en-IN",
#   "script_code": "Latn"
# }
```

## Response Format

```json
{
  "request_id": "string | null",
  "language_code": "string | null",
  "script_code": "string | null"
}
```

## Supported Languages and Scripts

#### Language Support

**Available Languages:**

* en-IN: English
* hi-IN: Hindi
* bn-IN: Bengali
* gu-IN: Gujarati
* kn-IN: Kannada
* ml-IN: Malayalam
* mr-IN: Marathi
* od-IN: Odia
* pa-IN: Punjabi
* ta-IN: Tamil
* te-IN: Telugu

#### Script Support

**Available Scripts:**

* Latn: Latin (Romanized script)
* Deva: Devanagari (Hindi, Marathi)
* Beng: Bengali
* Gujr: Gujarati
* Knda: Kannada
* Mlym: Malayalam
* Orya: Odia
* Guru: Gurmukhi
* Taml: Tamil
* Telu: Telugu

## API Response Format

| Field           | Type   | Description                                                 |
| --------------- | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `request_id`    | string | Unique identifier for the request                           |
| `language_code` | string | Detected language in BCP-47 format (e.g., `hi-IN`, `ta-IN`) |
| `script_code`   | string | Detected script code (e.g., `Deva`, `Latn`, `Taml`)         |

**Supported languages:** `en-IN`, `hi-IN`, `bn-IN`, `gu-IN`, `kn-IN`, `ml-IN`, `mr-IN`, `od-IN`, `pa-IN`, `ta-IN`, `te-IN`

```json
{
  "request_id": "20241115_12345678-1234-5678-1234-567812345678",
  "language_code": "hi-IN",
  "script_code": "Deva"
}
```

### Script Codes Reference

| Script Code | Script Name | Used By        |
| ----------- | ----------- | -------------- |
| `Latn`      | Latin       | English        |
| `Deva`      | Devanagari  | Hindi, Marathi |
| `Beng`      | Bengali     | Bengali        |
| `Gujr`      | Gujarati    | Gujarati       |
| `Knda`      | Kannada     | Kannada        |
| `Mlym`      | Malayalam   | Malayalam      |
| `Orya`      | Odia        | Odia           |
| `Guru`      | Gurmukhi    | Punjabi        |
| `Taml`      | Tamil       | Tamil          |
| `Telu`      | Telugu      | Telugu         |

## Error Responses

All errors return a JSON object with an `error` field (`message`, `code`, `request_id`). The full error-code table, retry guidance, and SDK exception reference live on the central [Errors & Troubleshooting](/api/getting-started/errors-troubleshooting) page.

Errors specific to this endpoint:

| HTTP Status | Error Code                   | When This Happens                   | What To Do                                      |
| ----------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `400`       | `invalid_request_error`      | Missing required `input` parameter  | Include the `input` field with text to identify |
| `422`       | `unprocessable_entity_error` | Text too long (max 1000 characters) | Split text into smaller chunks                  |

#### Error Handling Code Example

```python
from sarvamai import SarvamAI
from sarvamai.core.api_error import ApiError

client = SarvamAI(api_subscription_key="YOUR_SARVAM_API_KEY")

try:
    response = client.text.identify_language(
        input="Hello, how are you?"
    )
    print(f"Language: {response.language_code}")
    print(f"Script: {response.script_code}")
except ApiError as e:
    if e.status_code == 400:
        print(f"Bad request: {e.body}")
    elif e.status_code == 403:
        print("Invalid API key. Check your credentials.")
    elif e.status_code == 422:
        print(f"Invalid parameters: {e.body}")
    elif e.status_code == 429:
        print("Rate limit exceeded. Wait and retry.")
    else:
        print(f"Error {e.status_code}: {e.body}")
```

> **Note**
>
> Check out our detailed [API Reference](/api-reference/text/identify-language)
> to explore Language Identification and all available options.

> **Note**
>
> For detailed pricing information and usage tiers, visit our [pricing page](https://dashboard.sarvam.ai/pricing).

> Identifies the language and script of input text, supporting multiple Indian languages. Automatic detection with confidence scores for multilingual text processing.