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The Canva Apps SDK, Connect APIs, and MCP are now unified in the Canva Developers SDK. Learn more⁠(opens in a new tab or window).
Canva Developers SDK
The Canva Apps SDK, Connect APIs, and MCP are now unified in the Canva Developers SDK. Learn more⁠(opens in a new tab or window).
Apps inside Canva
OverviewHow apps work in CanvaSet up your app
Fundamentals
Previewing appsUsing a backendBundling appsAdapt to feature context
App intents
Overview
OverviewImplementation guide
Creating app elementsCreating audio tracksCreating imagesCreating image overlaysCreating shapesCreating tablesCreating textCreating videosEmbedding rich media
Grouping elementsPositioning elementsSupporting drag and dropUsing fontsUsing color selectors
Content Querying APIDesign Editing APISelection API
Using design IDsExporting designs
OverviewImplementation guide
OverviewImplementation guide
OverviewImplementation guideURL pattern validation rules
Development guides
OverviewFrictionless authentication
OverviewDynamic domainsMulti-accountMulti-providerTroubleshooting
Manual authenticationAlternative authentication experiences
Handling errors
Localization overviewRecommended workflowMigrate an existing appLocalize backend responsesLocalize outside React componentsICU syntaxBad practices
Cross-Origin Resource SharingHTTP request verificationJSON Web TokensSecurity guidelinesContent Security Policy
Unit testingTest harness
Designing your app
Overview
LayoutColorsContentWritten contentTypographyIconsSpacingAccessibilityLocalization
AlertsAuthenticationColor selectionContent publisherContent Querying APIData ConnectorDesign Editing APIDrag and dropEmpty statesErrorsExternal linksFeature supportFontsFormsLoadingMobileMonetization statusOverlaysPerformancePremium appsRichtextSearchSelectionSuspensionTablesToasts
OverviewQuickstartDesign tokensComponentsPatterns
SearchableListViewChangelog
Figma resource

Apps inside Canva

How to build apps that run in the Canva editor with the Canva Developers SDK.

Apps add features to Canva. They run in the browser and are built with standard web technologies, such as JavaScript.

You can use the Canva Developers SDK to create apps inside Canva that import content into Canva, add elements to a user's design, automate common design tasks, and more. You can then either distribute the app publicly through the Apps Marketplace⁠(opens in a new tab or window), or share it privately with members of your team⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

To explore example apps, check out the starter kit for apps inside Canva⁠(opens in a new tab or window), which is described on Starter kit.

What can apps do?

At their most basic, apps are JavaScript files that run inside an iframe. An app's main UI renders in the side panel of the Canva editor. Canva can also run an app in other contexts, such as an overlay on a selected image, and surfaces intent-based apps wherever their capability is relevant to what a user is doing.

In the iframe, apps can:

Building with intents

Apps inside Canva are based on intents. An intent is a contract that lets Canva discover your app and present its functionality wherever that capability is relevant to what a user is doing. Each intent defines the set of actions your app must implement, and an app can implement one intent or any combination of them.

All new apps must implement at least one intent. The available intents are:

For each intent's contract, the technical requirements that apply to every intent, and how to organize an app that implements more than one, see Intents.

Why create apps?

There are many reasons to create apps, but these are some of the highlights:

  • Reach an audience of 100+ million monthly active users.
  • Create features that improve your own Canva experience.
  • Create apps to improve your team's workflows.

Next steps