This article is part of our Lucca HR API deep-dive series, where we explore practical ways to use the API for HR data management. In this post, we’ll focus on how to retrieve employee data from the Lucca HR API, a core functionality for HR teams looking to automate employee records, reporting, and analytics.
If you’re looking for other use cases, such as authentication, rate limits, or advanced integrations, check out our full Lucca HR API Guide.
Getting Employee Data from Lucca HR API
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
- Access to the Lucca HR API with valid credentials.
 - A Python environment set up with the necessary libraries, such as 
requests. 
Key API Endpoints
GET /api/v3/users: Retrieve all active users.GET /api/v3/users?formerEmployees=true: Retrieve all users, including terminated ones.GET /api/v3/users/{id}: Retrieve data for a specific user by ID.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Retrieve All Employees
import requests
url = "https://your-lucca-instance/api/v3/users"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
all_users = response.json()
print(all_users)2. Retrieve a Specific Employee
import requests
user_id = "123"  # Replace with the actual user ID
url = f"https://your-lucca-instance/api/v3/users/{user_id}"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
user_data = response.json()
print(user_data)Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even seasoned developers can run into issues. Here are the most common mistakes when integrating with Lucca HR:
- Using unsecured (non-HTTPS) endpoints for API calls.
 - Forgetting to include the required authentication header.
 - Calling incorrect or outdated API URLs.
 - Failing to handle HTTP errors and status codes.
 - Ignoring API rate limits, leading to throttling.
 - Not validating or sanitizing JSON responses.
 - Hardcoding sensitive credentials or API tokens in scripts.
 
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I authenticate with the Lucca HR API?
Use a Bearer token in the Authorization header, for example:Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN
2. Can I filter users by specific criteria?
Yes. Use query parameters such as firstName, lastName, or matricule to filter results.
3. How do I update user information?
Use the PUT /api/v3/users/{id} endpoint with the updated data payload.
4. What format are responses in?
All responses are in JSON format.
5. Is there a limit to how many users I can retrieve at once?
Yes. The API uses pagination, check the documentation for details on page and limit parameters.
6. How do I handle API errors?
Inspect the HTTP status code and response body for detailed error messages.
7. Can I retrieve only specific fields from the user data?
Yes. You can use the fields parameter to limit your response to specific attributes.
Knit for Lucca HR API Integration
If you’re looking to skip the heavy lifting of building and maintaining direct integrations, Knit API offers a seamless alternative.
With a single integration to Knit, you can connect to the Lucca HR API and other HR systems without worrying about authentication, data synchronization, or ongoing maintenance. Knit ensures reliability, scalability, and faster deployment, letting your team focus on building great experiences instead of managing APIs. If you’re looking to integrate at scale, Knit API can drastically simplify your workflows, ensuring you stay focused on insights, not infrastructure.

