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Forum Discussion
Mobile Application(IOS and Android)
Hi there, currently i am working on mobile application for an organization whose requirement are as follow 1. All employees have installed company app on their smart phone i-e android and ios. With...
The issue is that client-side applications can't keep secrets, meaning that any access token stored in a distributed app, or even just sent to the app at any time, could be extracted. That means that a malicious user could get the access token, and use it to access the Dropbox API directly, bypassing any access controls your app attempted to enforce. (E.g., they could download files.)
However, if you have your own server and are willing to use that as an intermediary, you do have more options. You could have the app call to your server, and have your server call the Dropbox API. That way, you can protect your access token on the server.
In that case, you can either:
a) have the mobile apps upload to your server, and then have the server upload to Dropbox (e.g., to /2/files/upload).
b) have the mobile apps call your server, have the server call /2/files/get_temporary_upload_link, and return the resulting upload link to the app. The app could then upload directly to Dropbox using the link. (Note that /2/files/get_temporary_upload_link is still in preview though.)
Thanks for your time, Actually i was busy these days that why i am writing late to you. I have noticed the main point here, i have found your answer very helpful i will discuss these points with the organization i am working and get back to you, for now i am marking your answer as "Best Answer". Once again Thanks for your time
Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffDropbox does offer an API you can use for programmatically uploading files, among other operations. You can find everything you need to get started with the Dropbox API, including documentation, tutorials, and SDKs here:
https://www.dropbox.com/developers
For example, to upload files, you can use /2/files/upload:
https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-upload
That's a link to the documentation for the HTTPS endpoints themselves, but we recommend using one of the official SDKs:
https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation
We offer both Objective-C and Swift SDKs for iOS, and a Java SDK for Android. Those have corresponding native methods for the HTTPS endpoints.
Thanks for your support, I have read the stuff that you shared. but as i understand here is that it allows me to upload files only to users account, but i didn't need that
My requirement is as follow
let me alaborate it with a example, Suppose there is company named ABC, and the company have 20 employee working. Company ABC has a dropbox account(preferable paid) and what company needs is that all of the employees have company app(i-e android and ios) on their smart Devices.
App Functionality:
Allow its user to upload files to company dropbox account that's all.
Now according to endpoints they need a "Access Token" to upload files. How to get that as i understand it is token generated when user sign in the app or there is a way that i save company credentials in the app permanently and get access token by calling any endpoints which returns me accessToken for that account
- Greg-DB
I see, thanks for clarifying.
The API was designed with the intention that each user would link their own Dropbox account though, in order to interact with their own files. It is technically possible to connect to just one account like you describe, but we don't recommend doing so, for various technical and security reasons, especially in client-side apps like on iOS or Android.
Doing so would involve embedding an access token for the desired account in the app itself. A malicious user could then extract that access token from the app though.
what if i call my custom api for access token then use that token for to upload files
Another point here is "We are only providing to upload files functionality not to fetch it again"- Greg-DB
The issue is that client-side applications can't keep secrets, meaning that any access token stored in a distributed app, or even just sent to the app at any time, could be extracted. That means that a malicious user could get the access token, and use it to access the Dropbox API directly, bypassing any access controls your app attempted to enforce. (E.g., they could download files.)
However, if you have your own server and are willing to use that as an intermediary, you do have more options. You could have the app call to your server, and have your server call the Dropbox API. That way, you can protect your access token on the server.
In that case, you can either:
a) have the mobile apps upload to your server, and then have the server upload to Dropbox (e.g., to /2/files/upload).
b) have the mobile apps call your server, have the server call /2/files/get_temporary_upload_link, and return the resulting upload link to the app. The app could then upload directly to Dropbox using the link. (Note that /2/files/get_temporary_upload_link is still in preview though.)
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