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License status and Mdexa hosting, recorded separatelyAll datasets

STRING

Verified by Mdexa · Checked against the source text under public rules.How we check

Commercial use
Yes
Derivatives
Yes
Redistribution
Yes
File on Mdexa
NoLink only

all parts permissive

PermissiveLink onlyCC-BY-4.0Save

Badge

Mdexa verified · Permissive · 2026-11Mdexa verifiedPermissive · 2026-11

[![Mdexa verified · Permissive · 2026-11](https://mcp.mdexa.com/v1/badge/datasets/string.svg)](https://mdexa.com/datasets/string/)

Place it on a repository or dataset page; the status and date follow the verification. About badges

Cite this pageMdexa, STRING, https://mdexa.com/datasets/string/, verified 2026-11-14.

Key facts

Domain
Genomics and omics Modern medicine
Content
DatabasesSTRING database version 12.5 (current since September 29, 2026) contains 59'309'604 proteins from 12535 organisms and 28'464'487'749 interactions. Data are freely available under CC BY 4.0.
Size
—As stated: 59'309'604 proteins from 12535 organisms
Language / modality
English / Tabular · Graph
Publisher
STRING Consortium
Year
September 29, 2026
Expert review
—
Verification
Verified: license text seen

Commercial use of STRING

Commercial use: Yes. The overall verdict takes the strictest part; the parts carry different licenses, listed below. License status: Permissive.

Conditions
Attribution
Third-party rights
The source notes that some content may carry third-party rights.
License part
main data — Permissive (NOASSERTION)
License part
STRING data and download files — Permissive (CC-BY-4.0)

Quoted statements and their sources are in STRING license evidence.

Verdicts record what sources state and are not legal advice.

Practical information

Content scope

  • The page lists version 12.5 as current since September 29, 2026, with 59,309,604 proteins from 12,535 organisms and 28,464,487,749 interactions.
    string-db.org ·
    12.5 current: since September 29, 2026 https://string-db.org/ 59'309'604 proteins from 12535 organisms; 28'464'487'749 interactions.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The entry for version 12.5 lists 28,464,487,749 interactions.
    string-db.org ·
    12.5 current: since September 29, 2026 https://string-db.org/ 59'309'604 proteins from 12535 organisms; 28'464'487'749 interactions.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The page asks which databases STRING extracts experimental data from and lists BIND, DIP, GRID, HPRD, IntAct, MINT, and PID.
    string-db.org ·
    Which databases does STRING extract experimental data from? Top &#x2191 BIND, DIP, GRID, HPRD, IntAct, MINT, and PID.

    https://string-db.org/help/faq/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The page asks from which databases STRING extracts curated data and lists Biocarta, BioCyc, GO, KEGG, and Reactome.
    string-db.org ·
    From which databases does STRING extract curated data? Top &#x2191 Biocarta, BioCyc, GO, KEGG, and Reactome.

    https://string-db.org/help/faq/ · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Identifiers

  • STRING identifierCommon protein names, synonyms and UniProt identifiers are mapped into STRING identifiers.
    string-db.org ·
    Maps common protein names, synonyms and UniProt identifiers into STRING identifiers

    https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • → UniProtThe page states that the STRING API can be called using common gene names, synonyms, or UniProt identifiers and accession numbers.
    string-db.org ·
    You can call the STRING API using common gene names, synonyms, or UniProt identifiers and accession numbers.

    https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • → NCBI TaxonomyThe text states that species is the NCBI/STRING taxon identifier, for example 9606 for human.
    string-db.org ·
    species is the NCBI/STRING taxon identifier, for example 9606 for human

    https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

Access

  • Web APIstring-db.org tsv · tsv-no-header · json · xml · png · svg

    Same terms as the card's license.

    • The page states that some API methods allow only a limited number of proteins in each query.
      string-db.org ·
      some API methods will allow only a limited number of proteins in each query.

      https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

    • The page states that the API rejects queries for networks larger than 10 proteins when the organism is not specified.
      string-db.org ·
      In fact, the API will reject queries for networks larger than 10 proteins without the specified organism.

      https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

    • The page asks users to wait one second between each call so that the server does not get overloaded.
      string-db.org ·
      Please be considerate and wait one second between each call, so that our server won't get overloaded.

      https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • Web interface onlystring-db.org

    Same terms as the card's license.

  • Web interface onlystring-db.org

    Same terms as the card's license.

Versions

  • LatestThe page lists version 12.5 as current since September 29, 2026.
    string-db.org ·
    12.5 current: since September 29, 2026

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Known defects and misuse

  • The page notes that STRING may not always interpret the original inputs correctly, which can lead to errors or inconsistent results.
    string-db.org ·
    Note: STRING may not always interpret the original inputs correctly, which can lead to errors or inconsistent results.

    https://string-db.org/help/api/ · api-doc · checked 2026-11-13

  • Blumenthal et al. report that study bias and technical bias in PPI detection suffice to produce the observed power-law degree distributions; they list STRING among the aggregated PPI databases researchers rely on.
    pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ·
    Our findings are supported by mathematical models and extensive simulations, and indicate that study bias and technical bias suffice to produce the observed PL distribution.

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11718653/ · peer-reviewed-paper · checked 2026-11-14

Suited for

  • The page states that STRING outputs may be used in AI applications such as MCP servers, retrieval-augmented generation, knowledge graphs and agent tools, and for training or evaluating machine learning models.
    string-db.org ·
    STRING outputs may be used in AI applications, such as MCP servers, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs and agent tools, and for training or evaluating machine learning models.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The page states that no separate permission is needed to publish the STRING outputs listed above.
    string-db.org ·
    No separate permission is needed to publish the STRING outputs listed above.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The page states that the license allows use of the listed outputs in any medium and format, print or digital, in open access and subscription journals, books, theses and presentations, including commercial use.
    string-db.org ·
    The license allows their use in any medium and format, print or digital: in open access (CC BY) and subscription journals, books, theses and presentations, including commercial use.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Not suited for

  • The page directs users who need larger amounts of data, such as all interactions in Homo sapiens, to the Download page instead.
    string-db.org ·
    If you need larger amounts of data (such as for example all interactions in Homo sapiens), please use the Download page instead - which is also more efficient.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

  • The page states that the Cytoscape backend API is not yet documented and that it is not intended for use other than the Cytoscape App.
    string-db.org ·
    To make this work, a separate API serves the data to the corresponding 'App' (plugin) in Cytoscape. At present, this API is not yet documented, and we do not recommend it to be used for anything else than the Cytoscape App.

    https://string-db.org/cgi/access · Dataset page · checked 2026-11-13

Tags

Intended use
Evaluation

Quoted from the sourceSTRING outputs may be used in AI applications, such as MCP servers, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs and agent tools, and for training or evaluating machine learning models.Snapshot s02

Retrieval knowledge base
Source type
Built from a knowledge base

Author-statedInferredHuman-confirmed

STRING license evidence 14

Conditions are the union of the parts Material from other resources shown in STRING keeps its own terms: check the exceptions before use.

  1. Terms of use pagePage opened
    CC-BY-4.0
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageAll data and download files in STRING are freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  2. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageWhen using the data, please credit STRING and indicate any changes or additions you made to the data.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  3. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageThe license covers the following STRING outputs, whether obtained from the website, the APIs or the download files: network images, functional enrichment graphs, tables, data files, individual scores and data points, and screenshots of the STRING website.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  1. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageMaterial from other resources that STRING incorporates or displays remains subject to the terms of its original provider.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  2. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageNo separate permission is needed to publish the STRING outputs listed above.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  3. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageThe license allows their use in any medium and format, print or digital: in open access (CC BY) and subscription journals, books, theses and presentations, including commercial use.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  4. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageThe only condition is attribution: please cite STRING (see References ) and indicate if you modified the material.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  5. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageSTRING outputs may be used in AI applications, such as MCP servers, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs and agent tools, and for training or evaluating machine learning models.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  6. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageDerived files, such as indexes, may also be redistributed given clear attribution to STRING.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  7. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pagePlease name STRING and its version as the source in the metadata that accompanies the data, so that an agent can tell where the data came from and cite and link to STRING in its answers.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  8. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageFor trained models, please credit STRING and its version in the model or dataset documentation.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  9. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pageThe STRING name and logo may be reproduced without modification to identify STRING as a data source or tool, for example in figures, workflow or pipeline diagrams and presentations, as long as this does not suggest endorsement by the STRING Consortium.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  10. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pagePlease bear in mind that this mechanism should only be used for limited or occasional database access, in order to avoid overloading the server.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02
  11. Terms of use pagePage opened
    Third-party text · Terms of use pagePlease do not scrape the HTML page content.

    Statement found in snapshot s02 (page)

    string-db.org2026-11-13 · s02

Source and lineage

No upstream or downstream datasets recorded.

Known issues with STRING

—

Preflight

Not run Runs only on ingested data; says nothing about quality.

Downloading STRING and API access

No file on Mdexa (see the verdict). Get it from the source and confirm the terms there:

Latest 12.5 · 2026-09-29

Citing STRING

Mdexa, STRING, https://mdexa.com/datasets/string/, verified 2026-11-14.
More citation details

The source gives no citation text; the line above cites this card.

Machine-readable

string.jsonstring.mdcatalog.json

Change log 2
2026-11-14Material from other resources shown in STRING keeps its own terms: check the exceptions before use.
2026-11-14Listed on 2026-11-14. Judged by public rules and checked a second time before listing. The two passes disagreed; the stricter reading is carried: Second pass: license_status: looser by the source's own words (looser-explicit): 【标准许可误作自定义条款】条款页明写全部数据与下载文件采用 CC BY 4.0，并明说可用于商业用途、可用于 AI 训练、衍生文件可再分发。快照中没有甲类句："其他来源的材料仍受原提供方条款约束"属丙类（设 third_party_rights_notice，不降级，第23条），"请勿抓取 HTML""限量访问"属乙类行为义务。按原文应为 permissive（标识 CC-BY-4.0，而非 LicenseRef-STRING-Consortium-terms）；比拟定更宽，按第25条只在原文明示许可时放宽，此处原文明示，交采纳环节放宽，脚本不会自动放宽。 | commercial_use: looser by the source's own words (looser-explicit): 原文明示 "including commercial use"，唯一条件是署名（乙类）。署名不使商用变成 conditional，按原文应为 yes；比拟定更宽，交采纳环节决定。

Listed in

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No sourced statement yet

Update cycle · Breaking changes · Commercial licensing