All Model Identifiers and Numbers for All Apple Mac products

StevenAtMercedes-Benz wrote:

If it is the case that Apple does not have an "official" list, then we will build our own from the websites that host the information for all macOS models (listed on various pages, not just one page).

It may be a copyright violation to build your own database from 3rd party sources. Make sure to contact those websites and ensure that you have their permission to scrape the data. Just because something has been published doesn't mean you can take that data and do anything you want with it.

Why do you want this information anyway? Apple's public-facing web sites are intended for its consumer end-users. To put it bluntly, what Apple publishes isn't 100% correct. If maybe 90% is good enough, and/or you don't need most of the really old models, then Apple's data will work fine. But there is no API where you can scrape general information. There are APIs where you can query a specific device's specs, but again, they aren't 100% reliable.

StevenAtMercedes-Benz wrote:

From your reply, it seems obvious that you have not read all of the replies.

I didn't see this reply. It just popped in after I had posted my other reply. Perhaps it was the moderation action you mentioned below.

However, I did read the other replies. I simply wanted to point out that what you were contemplating would be illegal. Even if you are doing for private, in-house use, it might still be a violation of the terms of use for those websites. It does sounds like you could benefit from reading those kinds of terms-of-use documents. 😄

It seems, replies are quickly coming from those that are not systems admins for Apple computers. Else, I would expect those to understand without question why the information would be necessary to manage computers of macOS within enterprise environments.

It's hardly "necessary" as pretty much all enterprise installations don't have this information. I would assume that standard enterprise software would include some sort of inventory feature that would collect the required information from your devices. That's all you really need, isn't it? Unless you are seriously contemplating picking up a few Xserve G5s in the near future.

Seems like a bunch of "I don't know" responses from those that do not have a need for the data

No. People have give you very specific responses. They aren't saying "I don't know". They are saying, "no such data exists".

A more positive response would come from an authoritative resource that can 100% accurately reply with "yes, it is here" or "no, Apple certainly does not provide a singular data model to connect to for their own computer specifications."

This is a user-to-user tech support forum. The people who have responded so far, VikingOSX and John Galt, are two of the most authoritative resources on the forum. If such a resource existed from Apple, they would know about it.

No. Apple does not publish this list.

StevenAtMercedes-Benz wrote:

Does anyone with a more modern username have a better response? ;]

Better than correct?

You are not addressing Apple on this website. Perhaps if you were to explain how you intend to use that information a more comprehensive answer could be provided. For example, it is possible to extract model identifiers using sysctl, but you asked a very specific question regarding a publicly available spreadsheet of model identifiers or numbers maintained by Apple. The equally specific answer to that question is "no, they don't do that."

An API might be an alternative, but explain the intended purpose. Exactly what is it you need?

StevenAtMercedes-Benz wrote:

Exactly why I need an official table of Apple computer information, FROM APPLE. ;]

Yes. That was my question. Why?

Then again, if the Community does not have trust that the manufacturer's data is accurate or complete... What does that say about Apple?

It says that Apple sees no need for anyone outside of Apple to know those details.

Perhaps because as humans, when someone asks how to do something that seems of dubious utility, the obvious thing to ask is why you would want to do that.

Most of us have been here long enough we have a good idea of how Apple operates and whether the information you seek will even be possible to obtain.

For example, someone might ask how to get a list of each and every fix included in each update of iOS or macOS, and, honestly, it would be great to have that information.

But you'll never get it because Apple doesn't reveal that information, they just note what they choose to note was fixed in each release.

Phlac wrote:

What is this propensity for high level community members to ask "why?". I've never encountered that in most support communities, because the "why" is irrelevant.

Because this is often a forum of last resort. People sometimes don’t post here until they are already way down into a rabbit hole. In many cases, the best thing to do is take a step back and re-assess what they are trying to do in the first place. But I admit they usually aren’t as entertaining as this one.

Phlac wrote:

... the "why" is irrelevant.

Not all the time. Read The XY Problem for "the why" 🙂

This Discussion is a textbook example. A simple and straightforward question was asked, correctly answered, but was considered incorrect, inaccurate, and misleading.

Thanks. I do not understand the purpose of your question, but good luck.

What is this propensity for high level community members to ask "why?". I've never encountered that in most support communities, because the "why" is irrelevant.