App Development

Platform concepts

Apps Extensions Regions Authentication Deprecation policy

Extensions

Content extensions Publish extensions

Backend development

Base URL Continuation Signature verification SDKs

Distribution

UX guidelines Submission checklist Creating the App Directory listing

Server API

Overview GET /apps/configured POST /configuration POST /configuration/delete POST /content/resources/find POST /publish/resources/find POST /publish/resources/get POST /publish/resources/upload Redirect URL

Reference

Languages

Overview

An introduction to Canva's app development platform.

Canva's app development platform lets anyone create apps that add features to Canva. Apps can import content into Canva, export content out of Canva, and more.

This documentation explains everything you need to know about creating apps.

First steps

For an overview of what apps are, see Apps.
To start making an app, see the Quickstart guide.
If you have any questions, create a support ticket.

Looking for a REST API?

Canva doesn't have a REST API for automating interactions with Canva via HTTP requests, but it's something we're looking into. If you'd like to be notified about any developments or request a specific feature for the API, click here to register your interest.

How the documentation is organized

Canva's app development platform has a lot of features and, as a result, a lot of documentation. The documentation is organized into the following sections:

Platform concepts - Explanations of the platform's essential concepts, such as the difference between apps and extensions, and how to create new versions of apps.
Extensions - Information relevant to specific extensions. When you start developing an app, this is where you'll spend most of your time.
Backend development - Some extensions require backend development. This section contains backend-specific information that may apply to multiple extensions.
Distribution - Guidelines, requirements, and advice for developing and releasing an app that Canva's users will love.
Server API - Reference documentation for backend APIs. Most of this documentation is only relevant to specific extensions, but some of it applies to multiple extensions (for example, the authentication endpoints are relevant to content and publish extensions).