Chunked Uploads: A Beta That Rethinks Large File Transfer
Uploading large files through the Dropbox API has always carried a few frustrations. The /files_put endpoint imposes a 150MB cap, but even files that fit under that limit can be problematic: they may not fit entirely in memory, or an HTTP connection can time out or drop mid-transfer. And if a connection fails partway through, the only option is to start from the beginning.
The beta release of the /chunked_upload endpoint addresses those pain points by letting developers send a large file as a series of smaller chunks, each transmitted in its own request. The server reassembles the file once every chunk has arrived. This approach sidesteps the memory and connection issues that plague monolithic uploads, making it practical to push multi-gigabyte files over unreliable connections without fear of losing the whole transfer.
Alongside the API beta, Dropbox has published special beta builds of its SDKs so developers can exercise the new endpoint in their language of choice. The SDK downloads are available now, and the chunked upload documentation details the request flow and chunk parameters.
