# What Is the Purpose of api_marketplace.json in OpenAI Plugins

> Discover the role of api_marketplace.json in OpenAI plugins. Learn where marketplace metadata is actually stored within plugin manifest files for efficient development.

- Repository: [OpenAI/plugins](https://github.com/openai/plugins)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-09-12

---

**The [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) file does not exist in the OpenAI Plugins repository; marketplace metadata is instead stored in individual [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) manifest files within each plugin directory.**

The OpenAI Plugins repository hosts example implementations and manifests for ChatGPT plugins. Developers searching for a central [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) configuration file will find that this specific filename—along with camelCase variants like [`apiMarketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/apiMarketplace.json)—is absent from the codebase, with plugin metadata distributed across decentralized manifest files instead.

## File Absence in the Repository

Comprehensive searches of the entire `openai/plugins` codebase confirm that [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) is not present in any directory. Grepping for patterns including "apiMarketplace", "api_marketplace", and "marketplace" across all JSON files yields no references to this configuration file. According to the source code analysis, the repository root contains no such file, and it does not appear in any plugin subdirectory under `plugins/*/`.

## Where Marketplace Data Actually Lives

Rather than using a centralized marketplace registry, the architecture embeds marketplace metadata directly within each plugin's **[`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json)** manifest. These files are located at `plugins/<plugin-name>/.app.json` and serve as the canonical source for all marketplace-visible information.

Key fields within these manifests include:

- **`name_for_human`** – The display name shown in the marketplace
- **`description_for_human`** – The user-facing description
- **`logo_url`** – The icon displayed in the plugin store
- **`contact_email`** – Support contact information
- **`legal_info_url`** – Links to terms of service and privacy policies

This decentralized approach allows each plugin to maintain its own metadata independently rather than relying on a monolithic registry file.

## Structure of Plugin Manifest Files

The [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) files follow a standardized schema that defines both the API contract and marketplace presentation. All fields required for marketplace listing are self-contained within this manifest, eliminating the need for a separate [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) file.

```json
{
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "name_for_human": "Slack",
  "description_for_human": "Send messages to Slack channels",
  "auth": { "type": "service_http" },
  "api": {
    "type": "openapi",
    "url": "https://slack.com/openapi.json",
    "has_user_authentication": true
  },
  "logo_url": "https://example.com/logo.png",
  "contact_email": "support@example.com",
  "legal_info_url": "https://example.com/legal"
}

```

## Other Related Configuration Files

While [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) is absent, the repository does contain other configuration files at the root level:

- **[`opencode.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/opencode.json)** – Contains repository-level metadata and coding standards, unrelated to marketplace functionality
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/README.md)** – Provides general documentation and setup instructions for the plugins repository

## Summary

- **[`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) is not present** in the OpenAI Plugins repository and serves no functional purpose in the current codebase.
- **Marketplace metadata resides in [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) files** located within individual plugin directories (`plugins/*/.app.json`).
- **Each plugin maintains its own manifest** containing fields like `name_for_human`, `description_for_human`, and `logo_url` that populate the ChatGPT marketplace.
- **No centralized registry file** is required for plugin registration or marketplace display.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does api_marketplace.json exist in the OpenAI Plugins repository?

No. Comprehensive searches of the codebase confirm that neither [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) nor [`apiMarketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/apiMarketplace.json) exists in any directory. The repository uses a decentralized manifest system instead.

### Where is marketplace metadata stored if not in api_marketplace.json?

Marketplace metadata is stored in each plugin's [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) file, typically located at `plugins/<plugin-name>/.app.json`. These manifest files contain all fields necessary for marketplace display, including human-readable names, descriptions, and logos.

### Can I create an api_marketplace.json file to register my plugin?

Creating an [`api_marketplace.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/api_marketplace.json) file would have no effect, as the OpenAI Plugins platform does not reference this filename. To register a plugin, you must define a valid [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) manifest with the required schema fields and host it at the appropriate path within your plugin's domain.

### What fields in .app.json are visible in the ChatGPT marketplace?

The marketplace displays **`name_for_human`**, **`description_for_human`**, and **`logo_url`** from the [`.app.json`](https://github.com/openai/plugins/blob/main/.app.json) manifest. Additionally, **`contact_email`** and **`legal_info_url`** are used for compliance and support links, though they may not be prominently displayed in the UI.