Developers
The cable decoder, for developers and AI agents
The same deterministic decoder as this site, as JSON: a REST API, a remote MCP server and pay-per-call with x402. No account and no API key. 25 free decodes a day, then $0.01 per decode in USDC.
Quick start
One GET, one designation. The answer lists every coding system that reads the whole code, ranked, with each symbol, the layer it describes, its materials and the source of its meaning.
curl "https://thecablecode.com/api/v1/decode?code=N2XSEYRY&lang=en"Try it
Calls from this box are not counted as agent calls.
{
"schema": "thecablecode.decode/v1",
"input": {
"raw": "NYY-J 3x1,5",
"designation": "NYY-J",
"lang": "en",
"size": {
"cores": 3,
"earth": false,
"text": "3x1,5"
},
"family": "NYY"
},
"status": "ambiguous",
"match_count": 2,
"matches": [
{
"rank": 1,
"system": {
"id": "din-vde-0271-0276",
"name": "DIN VDE 0271/0276",
"region": "Germany"
},
"basis": "grammar",
"symbols": [
{
"symbol": "N",
"meaning": "VDE Standard",
"part": "standard",
"materials": [],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "Y",
"meaning": "Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)",
"part": "insulation",
"materials": [
"pvc"
],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "Y",
"meaning": "Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)",
"part": "sheath",
"materials": [
"pvc"
],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "-J",
"meaning": "With Earthing Core (Green/Yellow Core)",
"part": "other",
"materials": [],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
}
],
"construction": {
"conductor": {
"symbols": [],
"meanings": [],
"materials": [
"copper"
],
"implied_copper": true
},
"insulation": {
"symbols": [
"Y"
],
"meanings": [
"Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)"
],
"materials": [
"pvc"
]
},
"screen": null,
"armour": null,
"sheath": {
"symbols": [
"Y"
],
"meanings": [
"Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)"
],
"materials": [
"pvc"
]
},
"metal_sheath": null,
"tapes": null,
"standard_marks": [
"N"
],
"other": [
"-J"
]
},
"cores": {
"count": 3,
"earth_core": true
},
"materials": [
"pvc",
"copper"
]
},
{
"rank": 2,
"system": {
"id": "old-vde-0250",
"name": "Old VDE 0250",
"region": "Germany"
},
"basis": "grammar",
"symbols": [
{
"symbol": "N",
"meaning": "VDE Standard",
"part": "standard",
"materials": [],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "Y",
"meaning": "Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)",
"part": "insulation",
"materials": [
"pvc"
],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "Y",
"meaning": "Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)",
"part": "sheath",
"materials": [
"pvc"
],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
},
{
"symbol": "-J",
"meaning": "With Earthing Core (Green/Yellow Core)",
"part": "other",
"materials": [],
"source": {
"kind": "legacy_2016"
}
}
],
"construction": {
"conductor": {
"symbols": [],
"meanings": [],
"materials": [
"copper"
],
"implied_copper": true
},
"insulation": {
"symbols": [
"Y"
],
"meanings": [
"Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)"
],
"materials": [
"pvc"
]
},
"screen": null,
"armour": null,
"sheath": {
"symbols": [
"Y"
],
"meanings": [
"Polyvynil Chloride (PVC)"
],
"materials": [
"pvc"
]
},
"metal_sheath": null,
"tapes": null,
"standard_marks": [
"N"
],
"other": [
"-J"
]
},
"cores": {
"count": 3,
"earth_core": true
},
"materials": [
"pvc",
"copper"
]
}
],
"decoder": {
"data": "build",
"deterministic": true,
"llm": false
},
"links": {
"page": "https://thecablecode.com/c/NYY-J%203x1%2C5",
"docs": "https://thecablecode.com/api/v1/openapi.json"
}
}MCP server
Give Claude, or any MCP client, the decode_cable_code tool. Claude Code, one line:
claude mcp add --transport http thecablecode https://thecablecode.com/mcpOther clients: add a remote MCP server (streamable HTTP, stateless) at this URL. The same free allowance applies; beyond it, the tool takes the x402 payment in _meta["x402/payment"].
https://thecablecode.com/mcpBatch decode: a bill of materials in one call
Up to 500 designations in one POST, answered in the same order. Validated first at no cost; then one x402 payment of $0.01 per code. Batches do not use the free allowance.
curl -X POST https://thecablecode.com/api/v1/decode/batch \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{"codes": ["NYY-J 3x1,5", "N2XSEYRY", "H07RN-F 3G2,5"], "lang": "en"}'
# 402 Payment Required: pay the PAYMENT-REQUIRED amount ($0.03) with x402,
# then send the same request with the PAYMENT-SIGNATURE header.Pricing
| Single decode | 25 free per caller per UTC day (API and MCP together), then $0.01 per call |
| Batch decode | $0.01 per code, up to 500 codes, one payment |
| Payment | x402 v2, scheme exact, USDC on Base mainnet, wallet to wallet; nothing is held by the site |
| Account | None. No API key, no sign-up, no cookies |
Reading an answer
| status | single, ambiguous (several systems read the letters), no_match or unreadable |
| matches[].basis | named_standard, verified_designation (a real cable from manufacturer datasheets), type_name or grammar (the letters parse, nothing more). Treat a lone grammar match with care: random strings parse somewhere about one time in five |
| symbols[].source | patch with a URL for meanings added or corrected since 2016 from a cited source, legacy_2016 for the original tables, type_table for whole-name tables |
Sponsorships, bought by agents
An agent buying on behalf of a business can list the sponsorship slots, get a quote in EUR and USDC, order and renew, all paid with x402. Sponsorship never changes a decoding or its ranking, and every sponsored item is labelled.
GET https://thecablecode.com/api/v1/ads/slots