Get file thumbnail

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

Retrieves a thumbnail, or smaller image representation, of a file.

Sizes of 32x32,64x64, 128x128, and 256x256 can be returned in the .png format and sizes of 32x32, 94x94, 160x160, and 320x320 can be returned in the .jpg format.

Thumbnails can be generated for the image and video file formats listed found on our community site.

Request

application/json

Path Parameters

stringin pathrequired
png

The file format for the thumbnail

Value is one of png,jpg

stringin pathrequired
12345

The unique identifier that represent 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

integerin queryoptional
32032-320

The maximum height of the thumbnail

integerin queryoptional
32032-320

The maximum width of the thumbnail

integerin queryoptional
3232-320

The minimum height of the thumbnail

integerin queryoptional
3232-320

The minimum width of the thumbnail

Response

image/jpg

When a thumbnail can be created the thumbnail data will be returned in the body of the response.

image/png

When a thumbnail can be created the thumbnail data will be returned in the body of the response.

none

Sometimes generating a thumbnail can take a few seconds. In these situations the API returns a Location-header pointing to a placeholder graphic for this file type.

The placeholder graphic can be used in a user interface until the thumbnail generation has completed. The Retry-After-header indicates when to the thumbnail will be ready. At that time, retry this endpoint to retrieve the thumbnail.

none

Returns an error when Box is not able to create a thumbnail for this file type.

Instead, a Location-header pointing to a placeholder graphic for this file type will be returned.

application/jsonClient error

Returns an error if some of the parameters are missing or not valid.

  • requested_preview_unavailable - an incorrect dimension was requested. This will happen if the dimension requested is larger or smaller than the available file sizes for the thumbnail format, or when when any of the size constraints contradict each other.
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, or for additional reasons.

  • preview_cannot_be_generated - Box does not support thumbnails for this type of file
application/jsonClient error

An unexpected client error.

get
Get file thumbnail
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Log in

Request Example

cURL
curl -X GET https://api.box.com/2.0/files/12345/thumbnail.png \
     -H 'Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN>'
.NET
Stream thumbnailContents = await client.FilesManager.GetThumbnailAsync("11111", maxWidth: 160, maxHeight: 160);
Java
// Get a thumbnail with size exactly 256x256
BoxFile file = new BoxFile(api, "id");
byte[] thumbnail = file.getThumbnail(BoxFile.ThumbnailFileType.PNG, 256, 256, 256, 256)
Python
file_id = '11111'

thumbnail = client.file(file_id).get_thumbnail(extension='jpg')
Node
client.files.getThumbnail('12345')
	.then(thumbnailInfo => {
		if (thumbnailInfo.location) {
			// fetch thumbnail from location URL
		} else if (thumbnailInfo.file) {
			// use response.file Buffer contents as thumbnail
		} else {
			// no thumbnail available
		}
	});
iOS
client.files.getThumbnail(forFile: "11111", extension: .png) { (result: Result<Data, BoxSDKError>) in
    guard case let .success(thumbnailData) = result else {
        print("Error getting file thumbnail")
        return
    }

    let thumbnailImage = UIImage(data: thumbnailData)
}