Time spent finding information — Knowledge data 2026 | Stack Overflow Developer Survey

Developer Survey 2026

Question

In a typical week, how much time do you spend looking for information you need to do your work? Please provide a whole number representing hours per week, rounding up to the nearest whole number if needed.

free text
Optional
v2026.1

Data

	Respondents	Percent
1	316	2.6%
2	799	6.7%
3	747	6.2%
4	1,171	9.8%
5	1,935	16.1%
6	643	5.4%
7	216	1.8%
8	1,255	10.5%
9	47	0.4%
10	2,119	17.6%
11	5	0.0%
12	266	2.2%
13	10	0.1%
14	46	0.4%
15	832	6.9%
16	203	1.7%
17	6	0.0%
18	43	0.4%
19	1	0.0%
20	848	7.1%
21	10	0.1%
22	4	0.0%
23	5	0.0%
24	45	0.4%
25	119	1.0%
26	3	0.0%
27	1	0.0%
28	11	0.1%
29	1	0.0%
30	125	1.0%
32	11	0.1%
33	1	0.0%
35	16	0.1%
36	1	0.0%
38	7	0.1%
39	3	0.0%
40	46	0.4%
42	6	0.0%
43	1	0.0%
45	4	0.0%
48	6	0.0%
50+	72	0.6%

Use this data

Citation

Response data is released under the ODbL 1.0, which asks that you attribute it.

Stack Exchange Inc. (2026). “Time spent finding information”. Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2026. Licensed under ODbL 1.0. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/knowledge/data/knowledge-a

JSON

Structured for code, with the question, the year and the source url alongside the numbers.

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  "question": "Time spent finding information",
  "dataId": "KnowledgeA",
  "asked": "In a typical week, how much time do you spend looking for information you need to do your work?&nbsp; Please provide a whole number representing hours per week, rounding up to the nearest whole number if needed.",
  "year": "2026",
  "url": "https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/knowledge/data/knowledge-a",
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      "response": "16",
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      "response": "17",
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      "response": "19",
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      "pct": 0
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      "count": 848,
      "pct": 0.071
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      "response": "21",
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      "response": "28",
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      "pct": 0.001
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      "count": 1,
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      "response": "30",
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      "pct": 0.01
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      "response": "32",
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      "pct": 0.001
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    {
      "response": "33",
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    {
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      "count": 16,
      "pct": 0.001
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      "count": 1,
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      "response": "38",
      "count": 7,
      "pct": 0.001
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      "count": 3,
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}

Markdown

A formatted table, ready to paste into a document, an issue or a prompt.

|  | Respondents | Percent |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| 1 | 316 | 2.6% |
| 2 | 799 | 6.7% |
| 3 | 747 | 6.2% |
| 4 | 1,171 | 9.8% |
| 5 | 1,935 | 16.1% |
| 6 | 643 | 5.4% |
| 7 | 216 | 1.8% |
| 8 | 1,255 | 10.5% |
| 9 | 47 | 0.4% |
| 10 | 2,119 | 17.6% |
| 11 | 5 | 0.0% |
| 12 | 266 | 2.2% |
| 13 | 10 | 0.1% |
| 14 | 46 | 0.4% |
| 15 | 832 | 6.9% |
| 16 | 203 | 1.7% |
| 17 | 6 | 0.0% |
| 18 | 43 | 0.4% |
| 19 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 20 | 848 | 7.1% |
| 21 | 10 | 0.1% |
| 22 | 4 | 0.0% |
| 23 | 5 | 0.0% |
| 24 | 45 | 0.4% |
| 25 | 119 | 1.0% |
| 26 | 3 | 0.0% |
| 27 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 28 | 11 | 0.1% |
| 29 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 30 | 125 | 1.0% |
| 32 | 11 | 0.1% |
| 33 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 35 | 16 | 0.1% |
| 36 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 38 | 7 | 0.1% |
| 39 | 3 | 0.0% |
| 40 | 46 | 0.4% |
| 42 | 6 | 0.0% |
| 43 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 45 | 4 | 0.0% |
| 48 | 6 | 0.0% |
| 50+ | 72 | 0.6% |

Spreadsheet

.csv is a plain text format which most spreadsheet software can open.