Box Developer Documentation
 
    Latest version

    Get file information

    get
    https://api.box.com/2.0
    /files/:file_id

    This endpoint is in the version 2024.0. No changes are required to continue using it. For more details, see Box API versioning.

    Retrieves the details about a file.

    Request

    bearer [ACCESS_TOKEN]
    application/json

    Request Headers

    stringin headeroptional
    shared_link=[link]&shared_link_password=[password]

    The URL, and optional password, for the shared link of this item.

    This header can be used to access items that have not been explicitly shared with a user.

    Use the format shared_link=[link] or if a password is required then use shared_link=[link]&shared_link_password=[password].

    This header can be used on the file or folder shared, as well as on any files or folders nested within the item.

    stringin headeroptional
    1

    Ensures an item is only returned if it has changed.

    Pass in the item's last observed etag value into this header and the endpoint will fail with a 304 Not Modified if the item has not changed since.

    stringin headeroptional
    [pdf]

    A header required to request specific representations of a file. Use this in combination with the fields query parameter to request a specific file representation.

    The general format for these representations is X-Rep-Hints: [...] where [...] is one or many hints in the format [fileType?query].

    For example, to request a png representation in 32x32 as well as 64x64 pixel dimensions provide the following hints.

    x-rep-hints: [jpg?dimensions=32x32][jpg?dimensions=64x64]

    Additionally, a text representation is available for all document file types in Box using the [extracted_text] representation.

    x-rep-hints: [extracted_text]

    Path Parameters

    stringin pathrequired
    12345

    The unique identifier that represents a file.

    The ID for any file can be determined by visiting a file in the web application and copying the ID from the URL. For example, for the URL https://*.app.box.com/files/123 the file_id is 123.

    Query Parameters

    string arrayin queryoptional
    id,type,name

    A comma-separated list of attributes to include in the response. This can be used to request fields that are not normally returned in a standard response.

    Be aware that specifying this parameter will have the effect that none of the standard fields are returned in the response unless explicitly specified, instead only fields for the mini representation are returned, additional to the fields requested.

    Additionally this field can be used to query any metadata applied to the file by specifying the metadata field as well as the scope and key of the template to retrieve, for example ?fields=metadata.enterprise_12345.contractTemplate.

    Response

    application/jsonFile (Full)

    Returns a file object.

    Not all available fields are returned by default. Use the fields query parameter to explicitly request any specific fields.

    none

    Returns an empty response when the If-None-Match header matches the current etag value of the folder. This indicates that the folder has not changed since it was last requested.

    application/jsonClient error

    Returned when the access token provided in the Authorization header is not recognized or not provided.

    application/jsonClient error

    Returned if the file is not found, or the user does not have access to the file.

    application/jsonClient error

    Returned if the file_id is not in a recognized format.

    application/jsonClient error

    Returns an error if an action is performed on a file with an incorrect media type.

    • unsupported_media_type when requesting an expiring_embed_link for a file that is not supported by Box Embed.
    application/jsonClient error

    An unexpected client error.

    get
    Get file information
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    Request Example

    Response Example

    {
      "id": "12345",
      "type": "file",
      "allowed_invitee_roles": [
        "editor"
      ],
      "classification": {
        "color": "#FF0000",
        "definition": "Content that should not be shared outside the company.",
        "name": "Top Secret"
      },
      "comment_count": 10,
      "content_created_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "content_modified_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "created_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "created_by": {
        "id": "11446498",
        "type": "user",
        "login": "ceo@example.com",
        "name": "Aaron Levie"
      },
      "description": "Contract for Q1 renewal",
      "disposition_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "etag": "1",
      "expires_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "expiring_embed_link": {
        "access_token": "c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ",
        "expires_in": 3600,
        "restricted_to": [
          {
            "object": {
              "etag": "1",
              "id": "12345",
              "type": "folder",
              "name": "Contracts",
              "sequence_id": "3"
            },
            "scope": "item_download"
          }
        ],
        "token_type": "bearer",
        "url": "https://cloud.app.box.com/preview/expiring_embed/..."
      },
      "extension": "pdf",
      "file_version": {
        "id": "12345",
        "type": "file_version",
        "sha1": "134b65991ed521fcfe4724b7d814ab8ded5185dc"
      },
      "has_collaborations": true,
      "is_accessible_via_shared_link": true,
      "is_associated_with_app_item": true,
      "is_externally_owned": true,
      "is_package": true,
      "item_status": "active",
      "lock": {
        "id": "11446498",
        "type": "lock",
        "app_type": "office_wopiplus",
        "created_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
        "created_by": {
          "id": "11446498",
          "type": "user",
          "login": "ceo@example.com",
          "name": "Aaron Levie"
        },
        "expired_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
        "is_download_prevented": true
      },
      "metadata": {
        "enterprise_27335": {
          "marketingCollateral": {
            "$canEdit": true,
            "$id": "01234500-12f1-1234-aa12-b1d234cb567e",
            "$parent": "folder_59449484661",
            "$scope": "enterprise_27335",
            "$template": "marketingCollateral",
            "$type": "properties-6bcba49f-ca6d-4d2a-a758-57fe6edf44d0",
            "$typeVersion": 2,
            "$version": 1
          }
        }
      },
      "modified_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "modified_by": {
        "id": "11446498",
        "type": "user",
        "login": "ceo@example.com",
        "name": "Aaron Levie"
      },
      "name": "Contract.pdf",
      "owned_by": {
        "id": "11446498",
        "type": "user",
        "login": "ceo@example.com",
        "name": "Aaron Levie"
      },
      "parent": {
        "id": "12345",
        "type": "folder",
        "etag": "1",
        "name": "Contracts",
        "sequence_id": "3"
      },
      "path_collection": {
        "entries": [
          {
            "etag": "1",
            "id": "12345",
            "type": "folder",
            "name": "Contracts",
            "sequence_id": "3"
          }
        ],
        "total_count": 1
      },
      "permissions": {
        "can_annotate": true,
        "can_comment": true,
        "can_delete": true,
        "can_download": true,
        "can_invite_collaborator": true,
        "can_preview": true,
        "can_rename": true,
        "can_set_share_access": true,
        "can_share": true,
        "can_upload": true,
        "can_view_annotations_all": true,
        "can_view_annotations_self": true
      },
      "purged_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "representations": {
        "entries": [
          {
            "content": {
              "url_template": "https://dl.boxcloud.com/api/2.0/internal_files/123/versions/345/representations/png_paged_2048x2048/content/{+asset_path}?watermark_content=4567"
            },
            "info": {
              "url": "https://api.box.com/2.0/internal_files/123/versions/345/representations/png_paged_2048x2048"
            },
            "properties": {
              "dimensions": "2048x2048",
              "paged": "true",
              "thumb": "true"
            },
            "representation": "png",
            "status": {
              "state": "success"
            }
          }
        ]
      },
      "sequence_id": "3",
      "sha1": "85136C79CBF9FE36BB9D05D0639C70C265C18D37",
      "shared_link": {
        "access": "open",
        "download_count": 3,
        "download_url": "https://www.box.com/shared/static/rh935iit6ewrmw0unyul.jpeg",
        "effective_access": "company",
        "effective_permission": "can_download",
        "is_password_enabled": true,
        "permissions": {
          "can_download": true,
          "can_edit": false,
          "can_preview": true
        },
        "preview_count": 3,
        "unshared_at": "2018-04-13T13:53:23-07:00",
        "url": "https://www.box.com/s/vspke7y05sb214wjokpk",
        "vanity_name": "my_url",
        "vanity_url": "https://acme.app.box.com/v/my_url/"
      },
      "shared_link_permission_options": [
        "can_preview"
      ],
      "size": 629644,
      "tags": [
        "approved"
      ],
      "trashed_at": "2012-12-12T10:53:43-08:00",
      "uploader_display_name": "Ellis Wiggins",
      "version_number": "1",
      "watermark_info": {
        "is_watermarked": true
      }
    }