# Get a media file

> One photo or file, with a view_url that works for 15 minutes from this response. Fetch it again whenever you need the file; never store the link.

Source: https://docs.xplantpro.com/docs/api/media/get-asset

`GET https://app.xplantpro.com/api/v1/assets/{id}`

- Required scope: `read:assets`
- Credentials: workspace API key (`xpk_`)
- Idempotency-Key: ignored on this endpoint

## Path parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string (uuid) | Yes | The record's id. |

## Example

**curl**

```bash
curl https://app.xplantpro.com/api/v1/assets/9e1a3c5b-7d9f-4b1d-a3c5-e7f9b1d3f5a7 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $XPLANT_API_KEY"
```

**JavaScript**

```js
import { XPlantClient } from "@shmaplex/xplant-sdk";

const client = new XPlantClient({ apiKey: process.env.XPLANT_API_KEY });

const asset = await client.assets.get("9e1a3c5b-7d9f-4b1d-a3c5-e7f9b1d3f5a7");
```

**Python**

```python
import os
import requests

resp = requests.get(
    "https://app.xplantpro.com/api/v1/assets/9e1a3c5b-7d9f-4b1d-a3c5-e7f9b1d3f5a7",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['XPLANT_API_KEY']}"},
    timeout=10,
)
body = resp.json()
if not body["ok"]:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{resp.status_code} {body['code']}: {body['error']}")
asset = body["data"]
```

## Response

`200` with `{ "ok": true, "data": … }`. `data` holds the result.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string (uuid) | Yes | — |
| `target` | `"plant"` \| `"explant"` \| `"contamination"` \| `"sop"` | Yes | The kind of record the file is attached to. |
| `target_id` | string (uuid) | Yes | The id of that record. |
| `kind` | string | Yes | What the file is: `photo`, `video`, `annotation`, `document`, `diagram`, `scan`, `audio`, `other`. Images attached through the API are `photo`. |
| `file_name` | string \| null | Yes | The file's name as xPlant shows it. |
| `content_type` | string \| null | Yes | The file's media type, for example `image/jpeg`, `image/png`. |
| `caption` | string \| null | Yes | The note stored with the file. |
| `captured_at` | string \| null | Yes | When the photo was taken, where that was recorded. ISO 8601. |
| `uploaded_by` | string \| null | Yes | User id of the workspace member who added the file. |
| `created_at` | string \| null | Yes | When the file was added. ISO 8601. |
| `view_url` | string \| null | Yes | A link to the file itself, valid for 15 minutes from this response. Fetch the asset again for a fresh link, and never store one. `null` when the file cannot be linked. |
| `view_url_expires_at` | string \| null | Yes | When `view_url` stops working. ISO 8601. |

```json title="Response"
{
  "ok": true,
  "data": {
    "id": "8c2f1a6e-4b3d-4f7a-9e21-5d6c7b8a9f10",
    "target": "explant",
    "target_id": "3f9a2c1e-7b4d-4e8f-a6c5-1d2e3f4a5b6c",
    "kind": "photo",
    "file_name": "vessel-12-week-3.png",
    "content_type": "image/png",
    "caption": "Callus forming at the cut edge",
    "captured_at": null,
    "uploaded_by": "0d7e4b9a-6f21-4c3e-8a5b-2e9f1c7d4a60",
    "created_at": "2026-09-25T14:20:11.000Z",
    "view_url": "https://files.example.com/vessel-12-week-3.png?signature=4f9c2e",
    "view_url_expires_at": "2026-09-25T14:35:11.000Z"
  }
}
```

| Response header | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `X-Request-Id` | Identifies this request. Include it when you contact support. |

## Errors

| Status | Code | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `401` | `UNAUTHORIZED` | The key is missing, malformed or revoked, or its owner is no longer a member of the workspace. |
| `402` | `PAID_PLAN_REQUIRED` | The workspace's plan does not include the API. The full API is included with xPlant+ Teams and Enterprise; on Hobby and Pro Lab, keys can connect devices only. |
| `403` | `FORBIDDEN` | The key lacks a scope this operation requires, or its owner's current role in the workspace cannot use it — a key never does more than its owner can in xPlant. `error` names the scope, and for a role, the role it needs. |
| `403` | `DEVICE_TOKEN_NOT_ACCEPTED` | A device token was sent; this operation needs a workspace API key. |
| `404` | `NOT_FOUND` | No file with this id is attached to a record in the key's workspace. |
| `429` | `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED` | Too many requests for this key, device token or workspace. Wait `Retry-After` seconds. |
| `500` | `ASSET_QUERY_FAILED` | The file could not be read. Retry later. |

Branch on `code`, never on the `error` text. See [Errors](https://docs.xplantpro.com/docs/errors.md).