---
layout: api
page_title: ACL Roles - HTTP API
description: The /acl/role endpoints manage Consul's ACL Roles.
---

# ACL Role HTTP API

-> **1.5.0+:** The role APIs are available in Consul versions 1.5.0 and newer.

The `/acl/role` endpoints [create](#create-a-role), [read](#read-a-role),
[update](#update-a-role), [list](#list-roles) and [delete](#delete-a-role) ACL roles in Consul.

For more information on how to setup ACLs, please check
the [ACL tutorial](https://learn.hashicorp.com/tutorials/consul/access-control-setup-production).

## Create a Role

This endpoint creates a new ACL role.

| Method | Path        | Produces           |
| ------ | ----------- | ------------------ |
| `PUT`  | `/acl/role` | `application/json` |

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `NO`             | `none`            | `none`        | `acl:write`  |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role create`](/commands/acl/role/create).

### Parameters

- `Name` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies a name for the ACL role. The name
  can contain alphanumeric characters, dashes `-`, and underscores `_`.
  This name must be unique.
- `Description` `(string: "")` - Free form human readable description of the role.

- `Policies` `(array<PolicyLink>)` - The list of policies that should be
  applied to the role. A PolicyLink is an object with an "ID" and/or "Name"
  field to specify a policy. With the PolicyLink, roles can be linked to
  policies either by the policy name or by the policy ID. When policies are
  linked by name they will be internally resolved to the policy ID. With
  linking roles internally by IDs, Consul enables policy renaming without
  breaking tokens.

- `ServiceIdentities` `(array<ServiceIdentity>)` - The list of [service
  identities](/docs/security/acl/acl-system#acl-service-identities) that should be
  applied to the role. Added in Consul 1.5.0.

  - `ServiceName` `(string: <required>)` - The name of the service. The name
    must be no longer than 256 characters, must start and end with a lowercase
    alphanumeric character, and can only contain lowercase alphanumeric
    characters as well as `-` and `_`.

  - `Datacenters` `(array<string>)` - Specifies the datacenters the effective
    policy is valid within. When no datacenters are provided the effective
    policy is valid in all datacenters including those which do not yet exist
    but may in the future.

- `NodeIdentities` `(array<NodeIdentity>)` - The list of [node
  identities](/docs/security/acl/acl-system#acl-node-identities) that should be
  applied to the role. Added in Consul 1.8.1.

  - `NodeName` `(string: <required>)` - The name of the node. The name
    must be no longer than 256 characters, must start and end with a lowercase
    alphanumeric character, and can only contain lowercase alphanumeric
    characters as well as `-` and `_`.

  - `Datacenter` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the nodes datacenter. This
    will result in effective policy only being valid in that datacenter.

- `Namespace` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace to
  create the role. If not provided in the JSON body, the value of
  the `ns` URL query parameter or in the `X-Consul-Namespace` header will be used.
  If not provided, the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL
  token or will default to the `default` namespace. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "Name": "example-role",
  "Description": "Showcases all input parameters",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765"
    },
    {
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "web"
    },
    {
      "ServiceName": "db",
      "Datacenters": ["dc1"]
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ]
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request PUT \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/role
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "ID": "aa770e5b-8b0b-7fcf-e5a1-8535fcc388b4",
  "Name": "example-role",
  "Description": "Showcases all input parameters",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "web"
    },
    {
      "ServiceName": "db",
      "Datacenters": ["dc1"]
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ],
  "Hash": "mBWMIeX9zyUTdDMq8vWB0iYod+mKBArJoAhj6oPz3BI=",
  "CreateIndex": 57,
  "ModifyIndex": 57
}
```

## Read a Role

This endpoint reads an ACL role with the given ID. If no role exists with the
given ID, a 404 is returned instead of a 200 response.

| Method | Path            | Produces           |
| ------ | --------------- | ------------------ |
| `GET`  | `/acl/role/:id` | `application/json` |

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `YES`            | `all`             | `none`        | `acl:read`   |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role read`](/commands/acl/role/read).

### Parameters

- `id` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the UUID of the ACL role to
  read. This is required and is specified as part of the URL path.

- `ns` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace to lookup
  the role. This value can be specified as the `ns` URL query
  parameter or the `X-Consul-Namespace` header. If not provided by either,
  the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL token or will default
  to the `default` namespace. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request GET http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/role/aa770e5b-8b0b-7fcf-e5a1-8535fcc388b4
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "ID": "aa770e5b-8b0b-7fcf-e5a1-8535fcc388b4",
  "Name": "example-role",
  "Description": "Showcases all input parameters",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "web"
    },
    {
      "ServiceName": "db",
      "Datacenters": ["dc1"]
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ],
  "Hash": "mBWMIeX9zyUTdDMq8vWB0iYod+mKBArJoAhj6oPz3BI=",
  "CreateIndex": 57,
  "ModifyIndex": 57
}
```

## Read a Role by Name

This endpoint reads an ACL role with the given name. If no role exists with the
given name, a 404 is returned instead of a 200 response.

| Method | Path                   | Produces           |
| ------ | ---------------------- | ------------------ |
| `GET`  | `/acl/role/name/:name` | `application/json` |

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `YES`            | `all`             | `none`        | `acl:read`   |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role read -name=<string>`](/commands/acl/role/read#name).

### Parameters

- `name` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the Name of the ACL role to
  read. This is required and is specified as part of the URL path.

- `ns` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace to lookup
  the role. This value can be specified as the `ns` URL query
  parameter or the `X-Consul-Namespace` header. If not provided by either,
  the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL token or will default
  to the `default` namespace. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request GET http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/role/name/example-role
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "ID": "aa770e5b-8b0b-7fcf-e5a1-8535fcc388b4",
  "Name": "example-role",
  "Description": "Showcases all input parameters",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "web"
    },
    {
      "ServiceName": "db",
      "Datacenters": ["dc1"]
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ],
  "Hash": "mBWMIeX9zyUTdDMq8vWB0iYod+mKBArJoAhj6oPz3BI=",
  "CreateIndex": 57,
  "ModifyIndex": 57
}
```

## Update a Role

This endpoint updates an existing ACL role.

| Method | Path            | Produces           |
| ------ | --------------- | ------------------ |
| `PUT`  | `/acl/role/:id` | `application/json` |

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `NO`             | `none`            | `none`        | `acl:write`  |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role update`](/commands/acl/role/update).

### Parameters

- `ID` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the ID of the role to update. This is
  required in the URL path but may also be specified in the JSON body. If specified
  in both places then they must match exactly.

- `Name` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies a name for the ACL role. The name
  can only contain alphanumeric characters as well as `-` and `_` and must be
  unique.
- `Description` `(string: "")` - Free form human readable description of the role.

- `Policies` `(array<PolicyLink>)` - The list of policies that should be
  applied to the role. A PolicyLink is an object with an "ID" and/or "Name"
  field to specify a policy. With the PolicyLink, roles can be linked to
  policies either by the policy name or by the policy ID. When policies are
  linked by name they will be internally resolved to the policy ID. With
  linking roles internally by IDs, Consul enables policy renaming without
  breaking tokens.

- `ServiceIdentities` `(array<ServiceIdentity>)` - The list of [service
  identities](/docs/security/acl/acl-system#acl-service-identities) that should be
  applied to the role. Added in Consul 1.5.0.

- `NodeIdentities` `(array<NodeIdentity>)` - The list of [node
  identities](/docs/security/acl/acl-system#acl-node-identities) that should be
  applied to the role. Added in Consul 1.8.1.

- `Namespace` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace of
  the role to update. If not provided in the JSON body, the value of
  the `ns` URL query parameter or in the `X-Consul-Namespace` header will be used.
  If not provided, the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL
  token or will default to the `default` namespace. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "ID": "8bec74a4-5ced-45ed-9c9d-bca6153490bb",
  "Name": "example-two",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "db"
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ]
}
```

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request PUT \
    --data @payload.json \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/role/8bec74a4-5ced-45ed-9c9d-bca6153490bb
```

### Sample Response

```json
{
  "ID": "8bec74a4-5ced-45ed-9c9d-bca6153490bb",
  "Name": "example-two",
  "Policies": [
    {
      "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
      "Name": "node-read"
    }
  ],
  "ServiceIdentities": [
    {
      "ServiceName": "db"
    }
  ],
  "NodeIdentities": [
    {
      "NodeName": "node-1",
      "Datacenter": "dc2"
    }
  ],
  "Hash": "OtZUUKhInTLEqTPfNSSOYbRiSBKm3c4vI2p6MxZnGWc=",
  "CreateIndex": 14,
  "ModifyIndex": 28
}
```

## Delete a Role

This endpoint deletes an ACL role.

| Method   | Path            | Produces           |
| -------- | --------------- | ------------------ |
| `DELETE` | `/acl/role/:id` | `application/json` |

Even though the return type is application/json, the value is either true or
false indicating whether the delete succeeded.

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `NO`             | `none`            | `none`        | `acl:write`  |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role delete`](/commands/acl/role/delete).

### Parameters

- `id` `(string: <required>)` - Specifies the UUID of the ACL role to
  delete. This is required and is specified as part of the URL path.

- `ns` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace of the
  role to delete. This value can be specified as the `ns` URL query
  parameter or the `X-Consul-Namespace` header. If not provided by either,
  the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL token or will default
  to the `default` namespace. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request DELETE \
    http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/role/8f246b77-f3e1-ff88-5b48-8ec93abf3e05
```

### Sample Response

```json
true
```

## List Roles

This endpoint lists all the ACL roles.

| Method | Path         | Produces           |
| ------ | ------------ | ------------------ |
| `GET`  | `/acl/roles` | `application/json` |

The table below shows this endpoint's support for
[blocking queries](/api-docs/features/blocking),
[consistency modes](/api-docs/features/consistency),
[agent caching](/api-docs/features/caching), and
[required ACLs](/api#authentication).

| Blocking Queries | Consistency Modes | Agent Caching | ACL Required |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | ------------ |
| `YES`            | `all`             | `none`        | `acl:read`   |

The corresponding CLI command is [`consul acl role list`](/commands/acl/role/list).

## Parameters

- `policy` `(string: "")` - Filters the role list to those roles that are
  linked with the specific policy ID.

### Parameters

- `ns` `(string: "")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace to list
  the roles for. This value can be specified as the `ns` URL query
  parameter or the `X-Consul-Namespace` header. If not provided by either,
  the namespace will be inherited from the request's ACL token or will default
  to the `default` namespace. The namespace may be specified as '\*' and then
  results will be returned for all namespaces. Added in Consul 1.7.0.

## Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl --request GET http://127.0.0.1:8500/v1/acl/roles
```

### Sample Response

```json
[
  {
    "ID": "5e52a099-4c90-c067-5478-980f06be9af5",
    "Name": "node-read",
    "Description": "",
    "Policies": [
      {
        "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
        "Name": "node-read"
      }
    ],
    "Hash": "K6AbfofgiZ1BEaKORBloZf7WPdg45J/PipHxQiBlK1U=",
    "CreateIndex": 50,
    "ModifyIndex": 50
  },
  {
    "ID": "aa770e5b-8b0b-7fcf-e5a1-8535fcc388b4",
    "Name": "example-role",
    "Description": "Showcases all input parameters",
    "Policies": [
      {
        "ID": "783beef3-783f-f41f-7422-7087dc272765",
        "Name": "node-read"
      }
    ],
    "ServiceIdentities": [
      {
        "ServiceName": "web"
      },
      {
        "ServiceName": "db",
        "Datacenters": ["dc1"]
      }
    ],
    "NodeIdentities": [
      {
        "NodeName": "node-1",
        "Datacenter": "dc2"
      }
    ],
    "Hash": "mBWMIeX9zyUTdDMq8vWB0iYod+mKBArJoAhj6oPz3BI=",
    "CreateIndex": 57,
    "ModifyIndex": 57
  }
]
```