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A metadata instance describes the relation between a template and a file, including the values that are assigned for every field.

Metadata instance

An instance of a metadata template, which has been applied to a file or folder.
PropertyTypeRequiredDescription
$parentstringNoThe identifier of the item that this metadata instance has been attached to. This combines the type and the id of the parent in the form {type}_{id}.
$templatestringNoThe name of the template.
$scopestringNoAn ID for the scope in which this template has been applied. This will be enterprise_{enterprise_id} for templates defined for use in this enterprise, and global for general templates that are available to all enterprises using Box.
$versionintegerNoThe version of the metadata instance. This version starts at 0 and increases every time a user-defined property is modified.
Example

Metadata instance (Base)

The base representation of a metadata instance.
PropertyTypeRequiredDescription
$parentstringNoThe identifier of the item that this metadata instance has been attached to. This combines the type and the id of the parent in the form {type}_{id}.
$templatestringNoThe name of the template.
$scopestringNoAn ID for the scope in which this template has been applied. This will be enterprise_{enterprise_id} for templates defined for use in this enterprise, and global for general templates that are available to all enterprises using Box.
$versionintegerNoThe version of the metadata instance. This version starts at 0 and increases every time a user-defined property is modified.
Example

Metadata instance (Full)

An instance of a metadata template, which has been applied to a file or folder.
PropertyTypeRequiredDescription
$parentstringNoThe identifier of the item that this metadata instance has been attached to. This combines the type and the id of the parent in the form {type}_{id}.
$templatestringNoThe name of the template.
$scopestringNoAn ID for the scope in which this template has been applied. This will be enterprise_{enterprise_id} for templates defined for use in this enterprise, and global for general templates that are available to all enterprises using Box.
$versionintegerNoThe version of the metadata instance. This version starts at 0 and increases every time a user-defined property is modified.
$canEditbooleanNoWhether the user can edit this metadata instance.
$idstringNoA UUID to identify the metadata instance.
$typestringNoA unique identifier for the “type” of this instance. This is an internal system property and should not be used by a client application.
$typeVersionintegerNoThe last-known version of the template of the object. This is an internal system property and should not be used by a client application.
Example

Metadata instances

A list of metadata instances that have been applied to a file or folder.
PropertyTypeRequiredDescription
entriesarray of Metadata instanceNoA list of metadata instances, as applied to this file or folder.
limitintegerNoThe limit that was used for this page of results.
Example
Last modified on July 9, 2026