Nano Banana API

Generate images through the Nano Banana REST API and help agents integrate or operate the service safely. Use when a task involves text-to-image, image-to-image, listing models, checking credits, choosing between sync/stream/async generation, polling generation status, or producing reproducible API calls/scripts for Nano Banana.

Use this skill when an agent needs to call Nano Banana directly instead of only editing docs.

Official website: https://www.nananobanana.com

Quick Start

Set an API key with NANO_BANANA_API_KEY or NB_API_KEY.

Use the bundled CLI for repeatable calls:

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py models
python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py credits
python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate --prompt "A cinematic orange cat on a train" --mode sync
python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate --prompt "Replace the background with a beach" --reference-image-url https://example.com/image.jpg --mode async --wait
python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate --prompt "A cyberpunk skyline at night" --mode stream

Workflow

1. Call models first when the model name matters.
2. Omit --model unless the user explicitly asks for a specific model.
3. Choose request mode by interaction pattern:
   • sync: simplest request/response flow.
   • stream: real-time progress via SSE.
   • async: immediate submission plus later polling.
4. Use poll --id <generation_id> --wait when an async task must be followed to completion.
5. Download images during the same session when the user wants local files. Output URLs expire after 15 days.

Operational Rules

• Do not print or restate the raw API key.
• Prefer models over hardcoding catalog values. The live model list changes and is the source of truth.
• If docs and live API behavior disagree, trust the live endpoints and mention the date of verification.
• Treat 401, 402, 403, and 503 as actionable operational states:
  • 401: invalid or missing key.
  • 402: insufficient credits.
  • 403: account does not have API access enabled.
  • 503: async queue is busy; retry later.
• For stream, expect newline-delimited SSE data: events.
• For async, only declare success after processingStatus becomes completed.

Command Guide

List models

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py models

Use this before selecting --model. Live verification on 2026-03-25 showed model names that differ from examples in the docs, so avoid assuming nano-banana is the current explicit model ID.

Check credits

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py credits

Generate synchronously

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate \
  --prompt "A watercolor mountain village at sunrise" \
  --mode sync \
  --download-dir ./outputs

Generate asynchronously and wait

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate \
  --prompt "A product hero shot of a banana-shaped lamp" \
  --mode async \
  --wait \
  --poll-interval 3 \
  --max-polls 60

Follow an existing job

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py poll --id clxx123 --wait

Generate from a reference image

python3 scripts/nano_banana_api.py generate \
  --prompt "Keep the subject, turn the room into a brutalist gallery" \
  --reference-image-url https://example.com/source.jpg \
  --mode sync

Fallback Without The Script

If direct shell execution is unavailable, construct HTTP calls from references/api-reference.md. Use:

• POST /generate for sync, stream, or async submission.
• GET /generate?id=... for polling.
• GET /models to resolve current model names.
• GET /credits to inspect balance.

Resources

• Use references/api-reference.md for endpoint shapes, error handling, and live verification notes.
• Use scripts/nano_banana_api.py for deterministic CLI access without third-party packages.