Overview

What is the Content capability? Why use it?

The Content capability lets apps upload media to a user's media library. The upload is handled via Canva's backend, which is faster and more efficient than uploading media via the user's browser.

Any app that adds media to a user's design can benefit from the Content capability. For example, any of the following types of apps could use the Content capability:

When an app triggers the upload of a media file, a toast notification appears and the user can see the upload via the Uploads tab. The media's thumbnail is overlaid with a progress indicator until the upload is complete.

Once the upload finishes, the media counts against the user's storage quota. Users without a Canva Pro account have 5GB of storage, while users with a Canva Pro account have 1000GB (1TB) of storage.

Typically, the Content capability is used with other capabilities, such as Design Interaction and Drag and Drop, and it's these capabilities that have a more noticeable impact on the user experience.

  1. App initializes the Content capability.
  2. App provides Canva with the URL of a media file, such as an image, and a thumbnail.
  3. Canva starts uploading the media from the URL.
  4. Canva immediately responds with a media reference.
  5. App uses the media reference to do something with the media, such as adding it to the user's design. This reference is usable before the upload is complete.