Maya

name: Maya
description: A collection of APIs for Maya, the popular 3D animation and modeling software developed by Autodesk, providing scripting and plugin development capabilities through Python, C++, MEL, and .NET interfaces.
image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
tags:
  - 3D
  - Animation
  - Autodesk
  - CGI
  - Modeling
  - Rendering
  - Scripting
  - VFX
created: '2024'
modified: '2026-04-28'
url: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
specificationVersion: '0.18'
apis:
  - name: Maya Python API 2.0
    description: Modern Python API for Maya scripting and plugin development, offering improved performance and a more Pythonic interface compared to API 1.0.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Automation
      - OpenMaya
      - Plugins
      - Python
      - Scripting
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_2_0_html
      - type: X-api-reference
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_py_ref_index_html
      - type: X-python-api-2-reference-2026
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2026/ENU/MAYA-API-REF/py_ref/namespace_open_maya.html
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
        X-twitter: autodesk
  - name: Maya Python API 1.0
    description: Original Python wrapper for the Maya C++ API providing access to OpenMaya, OpenMayaUI, OpenMayaAnim, OpenMayaFX, OpenMayaRender, and OpenMayaCloth modules.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_1_0_html
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - OpenMaya
      - Plugins
      - Python
      - Scripting
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_1_0_html
      - type: X-modules
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_1_0_Modules_html
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
        X-twitter: autodesk
  - name: Maya C++ API
    description: C++ API for high-performance Maya plugin development, providing low-level access to Maya internals through OpenMaya, OpenMayaUI, OpenMayaAnim, OpenMayaFX, and OpenMayaRender libraries.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - C++
      - OpenMaya
      - Performance
      - Plugins
      - SDK
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_SDK_html
      - type: X-api-reference
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_cpp_ref_index_html
      - type: X-getting-started
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Maya_API_introduction_API_Basics_html
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Maya Commands (MEL)
    description: Maya Embedded Language command API for scripting and automating tasks within Maya using the built-in MEL interpreter.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Automation
      - Commands
      - MEL
      - Scripting
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__CommandsPython_index_html
      - type: X-api-reference
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__Commands_index_html
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Maya Commands (Python)
    description: Python command interface (maya.cmds) providing access to all MEL commands through Python, enabling scripting and automation with Python syntax.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-55B63946-CDC9-42E5-9B6E-45EE45CFC7FC
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Automation
      - Commands
      - Python
      - Scripting
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-55B63946-CDC9-42E5-9B6E-45EE45CFC7FC
      - type: X-api-reference
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__CommandsPython_index_html
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Maya USD API
    description: Universal Scene Description integration API for Maya, enabling USD stage loading, editing, and interchange within the Maya viewport.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Interchange
      - OpenUSD
      - Pipeline
      - Pixar
      - USD
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_Merged_USD_SDK_html
      - type: X-getting-started
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-02B222AB-0D49-4D41-B785-E1F5EECF7DF9
      - type: X-github
        url: https://github.com/Autodesk/maya-usd
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Maya Batch Rendering API
    description: API for batch rendering and render farm integration, enabling automated rendering workflows and pipeline integration.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Batch
      - Pipeline
      - Rendering
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-C99B0FD5-BE5F-4AC1-BA3B-566485FE5EE3
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Maya Hydra API
    description: Maya plugin API that replaces the main Maya viewport with a Hydra viewer, enabling custom render delegate integration for viewport rendering.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://github.com/Autodesk/maya-hydra
    baseUrl: https://localhost
    tags:
      - Hydra
      - OpenSource
      - Rendering
      - Viewport
    properties:
      - type: X-github
        url: https://github.com/Autodesk/maya-hydra
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
  - name: Autodesk Platform Services - Maya API
    description: Cloud-based API for Maya through Autodesk Platform Services (APS), providing web service integration, OAuth authentication, and cloud workflow capabilities for Maya development.
    image: https://www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview
    humanUrl: https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/maya
    baseUrl: https://aps.autodesk.com
    tags:
      - APS
      - Cloud
      - OAuth
      - Platform
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: X-documentation
        url: https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/overview/maya
      - type: X-authentication
        url: https://aps.autodesk.com/en/docs/oauth/v2/developers_guide/basics
      - type: X-api-reference
        url: https://aps.autodesk.com/developer/documentation
      - type: X-getting-started
        url: https://tutorials.autodesk.io/
    contact:
      - FN: Autodesk Support
        email: [email protected]
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: [email protected]
    X-twitter: apievangelist
    X-github: kinlane
common:
  - type: X-portal
    url: https://www.autodesk.com/developer-network/platform-technologies/maya
  - type: X-developer-help-center
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYADEV/2026/ENU/
  - type: X-documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
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    url: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-forum/bd-p/area-c-autodesk-maya
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    url: https://area.autodesk.com/maya/
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    url: https://www.autodesk.com/developer-network/platform-technologies/maya
  - type: X-github
    url: https://github.com/autodesk
  - type: X-github-developer-network
    url: https://github.com/ADN-DevTech
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    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=MAYA_RELEASENOTES_2026_RELEASE_NOTES_HTML
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    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=GUID-BAF59B47-E24F-4F87-9B77-ABE78D3F8268
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    url: https://www.autodesk.com/company/terms-of-use/en/general-terms
  - type: X-privacy-policy
    url: https://www.autodesk.com/trust/privacy
  - type: X-developer-blog
    url: https://blog.autodesk.io/maya-2026-api-update-guide/
  - type: X-platform-services
    url: https://aps.autodesk.com/
  - type: X-twitter
    url: https://twitter.com/AdskMaya
  - type: X-python-libraries
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=GUID-49701DA7-9224-424D-93F7-EC1DA779C99C