Hello, I would like to use Dropbox to store images received on my backend. I would also like to get access to the URL that I can directly use in <image href> in frontend. However, going through /upload API I can't find any property in response that corresponds to a URL. I am using NodeJS + Express as my backend. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Generating a direct link for use in an <image href> isn't recommended. Instead, I'd recommend one of two options: Use the Dropbox Embedder to display files. Instead of an image href, you'd use a Dropbox shared link (which you can create with the sharing API) as the input to a javascript snippet. Use the thumbnail API to get efficient thumbnails of content, and serve them through your app (and power downloads with our download API, if applicable).

Forum Discussion

kunaljx86

New member | Level 2

4 years ago

Get shareable links that I can use in <image href>

Hello, I would like to use Dropbox to store images received on my backend. I would also like to get access to the URL that I can directly use in <image href> in frontend. However, going through /upload API I can't find any property in response that corresponds to a URL.

I am using NodeJS + Express as my backend. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Developers

kylea
4 years ago
Generating a direct link for use in an <image href> isn't recommended.

Instead, I'd recommend one of two options:

Use the Dropbox Embedder to display files. Instead of an image href, you'd use a Dropbox shared link (which you can create with the sharing API) as the input to a javascript snippet.

Use the thumbnail API to get efficient thumbnails of content, and serve them through your app (and power downloads with our download API, if applicable).

kylea
Dropbox Staff
4 years ago
Generating a direct link for use in an <image href> isn't recommended.

Instead, I'd recommend one of two options:

Use the Dropbox Embedder to display files. Instead of an image href, you'd use a Dropbox shared link (which you can create with the sharing API) as the input to a javascript snippet.

Use the thumbnail API to get efficient thumbnails of content, and serve them through your app (and power downloads with our download API, if applicable).
- kunaljx86
  New member | Level 2
  4 years ago
  Ok thank you
- benfsmith
  Explorer | Level 4
  3 years ago
  Does not recommended equate to not possible? I’m not trying to host in a web page, yet still need a direct link
  - Greg-DB
    Dropbox Staff
    3 years ago
    benfsmith While the Dropbox API does offer the ability to programmatically create (temporary) direct links, the documentation notes "This URL should not be used to display content directly in the browser.". I can't speak to whether or not this would happen to work for your use case in practice, but Dropbox doesn't officially support it, so we wouldn't be able to offer help with any issues that may arise with that.