---
title: "Read a document"
description: "Returns a document's content and details, if you may read it."
canonical_url: https://docs.markdrop.in/api/documents/read-a-document
last_updated: 2026-10-30
site: "Markdrop Docs"
index: https://docs.markdrop.in/llms.txt
---

# Read a document

`GET https://api.markdrop.in/api/v1/documents/{slug}`

Returns a document's content and details, if you may read it. For a private or workspace document, send a token; for a password-protected one, send the password in `X-Read-Password`.

A document whose address changed answers at its old address too, but only to someone who can read it: `200` with `"moved": true` and the current `slug`.

- **Authentication:** Token optional: send `Authorization: Bearer mdk_…` to act as your account, or the document's edit secret in `X-Edit-Secret`; `X-Read-Password` for a password-protected document.
- **Rate limit:** 60 per minute per IP address.
- **MCP tool:** `get_document` ([tools](https://docs.markdrop.in/ai/tools))

## Path parameters

- `slug` (string, required): The document's address: the part after `markdrop.in/`.

## Headers

- `X-Read-Password` (string): The password of a password-protected document.
- `X-Edit-Secret` (string): The document's edit secret (`sk_…`), for a document published without an account. See [Edit key](https://docs.markdrop.in/documents/edit-key).
- `X-Markdrop-Workspace` (string)
- `X-Markdrop-Path` (string)

## Responses

- `200`: OK.
  - `slug` (string): The address: `markdrop.in/<slug>`.
  - `url` (string): The link to share.
  - `folder_path` (array of string)
  - `title` (string | null): Shown on the page and in link previews.
  - `content` (string): The document's Markdown.
  - `created_at` (string (date-time)): ISO 8601, for example `2026-11-30T12:00:00Z`.
  - `updated_at` (string (date-time)): ISO 8601, for example `2026-11-30T12:00:00Z`.
  - `expires_at` (string (date-time) | null): ISO 8601, for example `2026-11-30T12:00:00Z`.
  - `views` (integer): Default `0`.
  - `is_password_protected` (boolean): Default `false`.
  - `is_owned` (boolean): Default `false`.
  - `is_owner` (boolean): Default `false`.
  - `id` (string | null)
  - `ref` (string | null)
  - `google_doc_url` (string | null)
  - `google_doc_stale` (boolean): Default `false`.
  - `vscode_synced` (boolean): Default `false`.
  - `encrypted` (boolean): Set by clients that encrypt in the browser: `content` and `title` are already ciphertext. The server never sees the key. Default `false`.
  - `kind` (string): `markdown` for a document, `artifact` for a file. Default `"markdown"`.
  - `mime` (string | null)
  - `renderer` (string | null)
  - `type_label` (string | null)
  - `size_bytes` (integer | null)
  - `original_filename` (string | null)
  - `artifact_url` (string | null)
  - `download_url` (string | null)
  - `poster_url` (string | null)
  - `media` (object | null)
  - `file_version` (integer | null)
  - `workspace_url` (string | null): The address on its workspace's own domain, when it has a live one.
  - `access_level` (string): Who can open it: `link` (anyone with the link), `private` (only you and the people you share it with) or `workspace` (members of its workspace). Default `"link"`.
  - `workspace_id` (string | null)
  - `can` (object | null): What you may do with it: `edit`, `replace`, `settings`, `access`, `rename`, `delete`, `share`, `move`, `unshare`.
  - `read_ticket` (string | null)
  - `access_epoch` (integer): Default `0`.
- `401`: It needs a token, or the right password.
- `404`: No such document, or you can't open it.
- `422`: The request didn't validate. `detail` lists each problem, with where it is (`loc`) and why (`msg`).
- `429`: Too many requests from your IP address. Wait the seconds in `Retry-After`.

## Examples

**curl**

```bash
curl https://api.markdrop.in/api/v1/documents/k3x9q2m \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MARKDROP_TOKEN"
```

**JavaScript**

```javascript
const res = await fetch("https://api.markdrop.in/api/v1/documents/k3x9q2m", {
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.MARKDROP_TOKEN}`,
  },
});
const data = await res.json();
```

**Python**

```python
import os

import requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://api.markdrop.in/api/v1/documents/k3x9q2m",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['MARKDROP_TOKEN']}"},
)
r.raise_for_status()
print(r.json())
```