/element14

name: element14
description: Search Newark, Farnell, and element14 for electronic components — find parts by MPN or distributor part number, check pricing/stock, download datasheets, analyze specifications. One unified API covers all three storefronts (Newark for US, Farnell for UK/EU, element14 for APAC). Free API key, simple query-parameter auth, no OAuth. Datasheets download directly from farnell.com CDN with no bot protection. Sync and maintain a local datasheets directory for a KiCad project, or use batch MPN-list seeding (`--mpn-list`) for bulk workflows without a project. Use this skill when the user mentions Newark, Farnell, element14, needs parts from a non-US distributor, wants to compare pricing across regions, or needs datasheets from a source that doesn't require complex API auth. For package cross-reference tables and BOM workflow, see the `bom` skill.

element14 / Newark / Farnell — Component Search, Datasheets & Ordering

Related Skills

| Skill | Purpose | |-------|---------| | `kicad` | Schematic analysis — extracts MPNs for part lookup | | `bom` | BOM management — orchestrates sourcing across distributors | | `spice` | Uses element14 parametric data for behavioral SPICE models |

One API covers three regional storefronts — same catalog, same datasheets, only pricing/stock vary by region:

| Storefront | Region | Store ID | |------------|--------|----------| | **Newark** | North America | `www.newark.com` | | **Farnell** | UK / Europe | `uk.farnell.com` | | **element14** | Asia-Pacific | `au.element14.com` |

For BOM management and export workflows, see `bom`.

Key Differences from DigiKey/Mouser

• **Simple auth** — API key as a query parameter, no OAuth flow
• **Free API key** — register at partner.element14.com, courtesy usage allowance
• **Global coverage** — same API covers US (Newark), EU (Farnell), APAC (element14)
• **Unprotected PDFs** — datasheets hosted on farnell.com CDN, download freely with no bot protection
• **Datasheet URL in API response** — `responseGroup=medium` includes `datasheets[].url`

API Credential Setup

1. **Register** at [partner.element14.com/member/register](https://partner.element14.com/member/register)

• Free account — just username, email, password. No credit card needed.
• Provides a "courtesy usage allowance" (2 calls/sec, 1,000 calls/day — sufficient for normal use)

2. **Register an application** — after logging in, go to [My API Keys](https://partner.element14.com/apps/mykeys) and click "Get API Keys"

• App name: anything (e.g., "kicad-happy")
• Type: "Desktop application"
• Users: "1-10"
• Commercial: No
• Advertising: No
• Check "Issue a new key for Product Search API" → select "Basic" tier
• Agree to Terms of Service and click "Register Application"

3. **Copy your API key** — a 24-character alphanumeric string shown on the My API Keys page 4. **Set the environment variable** `ELEMENT14_API_KEY` before running the scripts:

   export ELEMENT14_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

If credentials are stored in a central secrets file (e.g., `~/.config/secrets.env`), load them first:

   export $(grep -v '^#' ~/.config/secrets.env | grep -v '^$' | xargs)

Product Search API

**Base URL:** `https://api.element14.com/catalog/products`

All requests use GET with query parameters. Authentication is via `callInfo.apiKey`.

Search Modes

The `term` parameter supports three search types:

| Mode | Format | Example | |------|--------|---------| | **Keyword** | `any:<keywords>` | `term=any:100nF 0402 X7R` | | **MPN** | `manuPartNum:<mpn>` | `term=manuPartNum:GRM155R71C104KA88D` | | **Distributor PN** | `id:<sku>` | `term=id:94AK6874` |

Full Example

GET https://api.element14.com/catalog/products
  ?term=manuPartNum:GRM155R71C104KA88D
  &storeInfo.id=www.newark.com
  &resultsSettings.offset=0
  &resultsSettings.numberOfResults=10
  &resultsSettings.responseGroup=medium
  &callInfo.responseDataFormat=JSON
  &callInfo.apiKey=YOUR_KEY

Response Groups

| Group | Fields | |-------|--------| | `small` | SKU, displayName, brandName, MPN, attributes | | `medium` | + datasheets[], prices[], stock | | `large` | + images, related products, country of origin | | `prices` | Tiered pricing only | | `inventory` | Stock levels by warehouse/region |

Response Format

With `responseGroup=medium`, the response looks like:

{
  "manufacturerPartNumberSearchReturn": {
    "numberOfResults": 5,
    "products": [
      {
        "sku": "94AK6874",
        "displayName": "Murata GRM155R71C104KA88D",
        "translatedManufacturerPartNumber": "GRM155R71C104KA88D",
        "brandName": "Murata Electronics",
        "datasheets": [
          {
            "type": "TechnicalDataSheet",
            "description": "Datasheet",
            "url": "https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/74273.pdf"
          }
        ],
        "prices": [
          {
            "from": 1,
            "to": 9,
            "cost": 0.156
          }
        ],
        "stock": {
          "level": 45000,
          "leastLeadTime": 0,
          "status": 4,
          "statusMessage": "In Stock"
        },
        "attributes": [
          {"attributeLabel": "Capacitance", "attributeUnit": "", "attributeValue": "100nF"},
          {"attributeLabel": "Voltage Rating", "attributeUnit": "V", "attributeValue": "16"}
        ],
        "rohsStatusCode": "YES"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Key fields:

• `sku` — Newark/Farnell/element14 part number
• `translatedManufacturerPartNumber` — MPN
• `brandName` — manufacturer
• `datasheets[].url` — **direct PDF URL** (farnell.com CDN, no bot protection)
• `datasheets[].type` — usually `TechnicalDataSheet`
• `prices[]` — tiered pricing with `from`, `to`, `cost`
• `stock.level` — quantity in stock
• `stock.statusMessage` — human-readable availability
• `attributes[]` — parametric specs (label, unit, value)
• `rohsStatusCode` — RoHS compliance (`YES`/`NO`)

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