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Get a comment

GET
/v1/comments/{id}
const url = 'https://api.focal.inc/v1/comments/f34a811b-a8c1-408a-9faf-1291a8c009a5';
const options = {method: 'GET', headers: {Authorization: 'Bearer <token>'}};
try {
const response = await fetch(url, options);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}

Fetch one comment by id. A top-level comment comes with its replies; a reply comes on its own, with reply_to_id naming its thread. A comment anchored to a spot on the media carries that under annotation.

Returns 404 when the comment doesn’t exist, is archived, or sits outside the caller’s reach — the cases share a response so a restricted caller can’t probe for comments they can’t see.

Pass fields to trim the response to the properties you actually need — e.g. ?fields=name,html_url returns just those (plus id, always). Unknown names are rejected rather than ignored.

Required scope: comments:read. Rate-limit cost: 1.

id
required
string format: uuid

Example

f34a811b-a8c1-408a-9faf-1291a8c009a5
fields
string

Return only these properties of each comment, instead of the full object. id is always included. Omit for the complete object. Selectable: id, body, author_type, author_id, author_name, space_id, media_id, media_version_id, board_id, row_id, reply_to_id, annotation, mentions, reactions, created_at, updated_at, html_url, reply_count, replies.

OK

Media typeapplication/json
object
data
required
object
id
required
string format: uuid
body
required

The comment text as Markdown. Mentions are written <@user_id> — the user’s id in angle brackets after an @ — and render in the app as that person’s name. Formatting the editor offers that Markdown can’t express (underline, colour) is dropped, keeping its text.

string
author_type
required

user for a Focal account; guest for someone commenting through a collection share link, who has no account.

string
Allowed values: user guest
author_id
required

The commenting user; null for a guest.

string format: uuid
nullable
author_name
required

The author’s display name — the user’s name, or the name a guest typed. null when a guest left it blank.

string
nullable
space_id
required
string format: uuid
media_id
required

The media the comment is on, or null for a comment on a board row itself.

string format: uuid
nullable
media_version_id
required

The version of the media the comment was left on. A media keeps its comments across versions, so this can be older than the current one.

string format: uuid
nullable
board_id
required

The board the comment was left on, or null for a comment made in the media library.

string format: uuid
nullable
row_id
required

The board row (task) the comment was left on, or null for a comment made in the media library.

string format: uuid
nullable
reply_to_id
required

The comment this one replies to, or null for a top-level comment. Threads are one level deep: every reply points at the thread’s top-level comment.

string format: uuid
nullable
annotation
required

Where on the media the comment is anchored: a moment (or stretch) of a video, a page, and shapes drawn over the media. null when the comment isn’t anchored to a spot on the media.

object
timestamp
required

Seconds into the video the comment is pinned to. Only videos have one. null when the comment isn’t pinned to a moment.

number
nullable
timestamp_end
required

End, in seconds, of the stretch of video the comment covers. null when the comment marks a single moment.

number
nullable
page
required

The page (counting from 1) of a multi-page media. null otherwise.

integer
nullable >= 1
mockup
required

The ad-mockup preview the drawings were made over (e.g. InstagramFeed). When set, frame and the drawing coordinates are in that mockup’s layout rather than over the media itself. null when drawn on the media itself.

string
nullable
frame
required

The size of the image the drawing coordinates are measured in. Divide a coordinate by it to get a fraction of the frame, or scale it by media.width / frame.width for the media’s pixels. null on comments drawn before this was recorded, when the coordinate space is unknown: the media’s pixels, possibly downscaled to a preview of at most 2560×1600 for images.

object
width
required

Width of the frame in pixels.

number
height
required

Height of the frame in pixels.

number
drawings
required

Shapes drawn over the media. Empty when the comment is only pinned to a moment or a page.

Array
Any of:

A rectangle outline. Coordinates are pixels within the annotation’s frame, measured from its top-left corner. For drawings created through the API, frame is the media’s own width × height.

object
type
required
string
Allowed values: rectangle
color
required

The stroke colour as a CSS hex code, e.g. #9d2dff.

string
x
required

Left edge of the rectangle.

number
y
required

Top edge of the rectangle.

number
width
required

Width of the rectangle.

number
height
required

Height of the rectangle.

number
mentions
required

Everyone mentioned in body, once each.

Array<object>
object
user_id
required
string format: uuid
name
required

The mentioned user’s name as it was when mentioned.

string
reactions
required

Emoji reactions, one entry per emoji anyone used.

Array<object>
object
emoji
required

The reaction, as the app’s icon name.

string
Allowed values: thumbs-up face-grin face-grin-wink face-surprise heart check eye rocket
user_ids
required

Who reacted with this emoji.

Array<string>
created_at
required
string format: date-time
updated_at
required
string format: date-time
html_url
required

Browser URL that opens the comment’s media or board row in the Focal web app, with its comments showing.

string
reply_count
required

How many replies the comment has. Always 0 on a reply.

integer
replies
required

The comment’s replies, oldest first. Always empty on a reply.

Array<object>
object
id
required
string format: uuid
body
required

The comment text as Markdown. Mentions are written <@user_id> — the user’s id in angle brackets after an @ — and render in the app as that person’s name. Formatting the editor offers that Markdown can’t express (underline, colour) is dropped, keeping its text.

string
author_type
required

user for a Focal account; guest for someone commenting through a collection share link, who has no account.

string
Allowed values: user guest
author_id
required

The commenting user; null for a guest.

string format: uuid
nullable
author_name
required

The author’s display name — the user’s name, or the name a guest typed. null when a guest left it blank.

string
nullable
space_id
required
string format: uuid
media_id
required

The media the comment is on, or null for a comment on a board row itself.

string format: uuid
nullable
media_version_id
required

The version of the media the comment was left on. A media keeps its comments across versions, so this can be older than the current one.

string format: uuid
nullable
board_id
required

The board the comment was left on, or null for a comment made in the media library.

string format: uuid
nullable
row_id
required

The board row (task) the comment was left on, or null for a comment made in the media library.

string format: uuid
nullable
reply_to_id
required

The comment this one replies to, or null for a top-level comment. Threads are one level deep: every reply points at the thread’s top-level comment.

string format: uuid
nullable
annotation
required

Where on the media the comment is anchored: a moment (or stretch) of a video, a page, and shapes drawn over the media. null when the comment isn’t anchored to a spot on the media.

object
timestamp
required

Seconds into the video the comment is pinned to. Only videos have one. null when the comment isn’t pinned to a moment.

number
nullable
timestamp_end
required

End, in seconds, of the stretch of video the comment covers. null when the comment marks a single moment.

number
nullable
page
required

The page (counting from 1) of a multi-page media. null otherwise.

integer
nullable >= 1
mockup
required

The ad-mockup preview the drawings were made over (e.g. InstagramFeed). When set, frame and the drawing coordinates are in that mockup’s layout rather than over the media itself. null when drawn on the media itself.

string
nullable
frame
required

The size of the image the drawing coordinates are measured in. Divide a coordinate by it to get a fraction of the frame, or scale it by media.width / frame.width for the media’s pixels. null on comments drawn before this was recorded, when the coordinate space is unknown: the media’s pixels, possibly downscaled to a preview of at most 2560×1600 for images.

object
width
required

Width of the frame in pixels.

number
height
required

Height of the frame in pixels.

number
drawings
required

Shapes drawn over the media. Empty when the comment is only pinned to a moment or a page.

Array
Any of:

A rectangle outline. Coordinates are pixels within the annotation’s frame, measured from its top-left corner. For drawings created through the API, frame is the media’s own width × height.

object
type
required
string
Allowed values: rectangle
color
required

The stroke colour as a CSS hex code, e.g. #9d2dff.

string
x
required

Left edge of the rectangle.

number
y
required

Top edge of the rectangle.

number
width
required

Width of the rectangle.

number
height
required

Height of the rectangle.

number
mentions
required

Everyone mentioned in body, once each.

Array<object>
object
user_id
required
string format: uuid
name
required

The mentioned user’s name as it was when mentioned.

string
reactions
required

Emoji reactions, one entry per emoji anyone used.

Array<object>
object
emoji
required

The reaction, as the app’s icon name.

string
Allowed values: thumbs-up face-grin face-grin-wink face-surprise heart check eye rocket
user_ids
required

Who reacted with this emoji.

Array<string>
created_at
required
string format: date-time
updated_at
required
string format: date-time
html_url
required

Browser URL that opens the comment’s media or board row in the Focal web app, with its comments showing.

string

Example

{
"data": {
"id": "f34a811b-a8c1-408a-9faf-1291a8c009a5",
"body": "Can we get the logo into the first two seconds?",
"author_type": "user",
"author_id": "cfebb6ef-f092-4591-a6e3-e6667ab5a252",
"author_name": "Maya Chen",
"space_id": "6916bc3d-e1ab-425b-ac25-eefada01a9a2",
"media_id": "786beeda-55ac-4025-bf6e-43b2918e84a9",
"media_version_id": "f0a180e0-f387-47fa-9c26-11e144d1f0f6",
"board_id": null,
"row_id": null,
"reply_to_id": null,
"annotation": {
"timestamp": 0.5,
"timestamp_end": 2,
"page": null,
"mockup": null,
"frame": {
"width": 1080,
"height": 1350
},
"drawings": [
{
"type": "rectangle",
"color": "#9d2dff",
"x": 64,
"y": 80,
"width": 320,
"height": 180
}
]
},
"mentions": [
{
"user_id": "5bc4dea2-9cc6-4e2a-a6ee-9156752c9646",
"name": "Jonas Berg"
}
],
"reactions": [
{
"emoji": "thumbs-up",
"user_ids": [
"5bc4dea2-9cc6-4e2a-a6ee-9156752c9646"
]
}
],
"created_at": "2027-03-04T10:15:00Z",
"updated_at": "2027-03-06T14:42:00Z",
"html_url": "https://app.focal.inc/spaces/6916bc3d-e1ab-425b-ac25-eefada01a9a2/library?file=786beeda-55ac-4025-bf6e-43b2918e84a9&folder=80539d38-3a8e-48f8-929b-8c0e9a22ab43",
"reply_count": 1,
"replies": [
{
"id": "fe202603-d056-49f6-9c4a-3bca6d05819e",
"body": "Done – new cut is uploaded as v2.",
"author_type": "user",
"author_id": "5bc4dea2-9cc6-4e2a-a6ee-9156752c9646",
"author_name": "Jonas Berg",
"space_id": "6916bc3d-e1ab-425b-ac25-eefada01a9a2",
"media_id": "786beeda-55ac-4025-bf6e-43b2918e84a9",
"media_version_id": "f0a180e0-f387-47fa-9c26-11e144d1f0f6",
"board_id": null,
"row_id": null,
"reply_to_id": "f34a811b-a8c1-408a-9faf-1291a8c009a5",
"annotation": null,
"mentions": [
{
"user_id": "5bc4dea2-9cc6-4e2a-a6ee-9156752c9646",
"name": "Jonas Berg"
}
],
"reactions": [
{
"emoji": "thumbs-up",
"user_ids": [
"5bc4dea2-9cc6-4e2a-a6ee-9156752c9646"
]
}
],
"created_at": "2027-03-06T14:42:00Z",
"updated_at": "2027-03-06T14:42:00Z",
"html_url": "https://app.focal.inc/spaces/6916bc3d-e1ab-425b-ac25-eefada01a9a2/library?file=786beeda-55ac-4025-bf6e-43b2918e84a9&folder=80539d38-3a8e-48f8-929b-8c0e9a22ab43"
}
]
}
}

The request was malformed (invalid cursor, unknown type, validation failure, etc.). error.code is bad_request.

Media typeapplication/json

Canonical error envelope. code is stable across releases and intended for programmatic handling; message is human-readable. details only appears for validation failures and lists the offending fields.

object
error
required
object
code
required
string
Allowed values: unauthenticated forbidden not_found bad_request conflict rate_limited internal_error
message
required
string
details
Array<object>
object
field
string
issue
required
string

Example

{
"error": {
"code": "bad_request",
"message": "Invalid request body",
"details": [
{
"field": "space_id",
"issue": "Invalid UUID"
}
]
}
}

Missing, invalid, or disabled token. error.code is unauthenticated.

Media typeapplication/json

Canonical error envelope. code is stable across releases and intended for programmatic handling; message is human-readable. details only appears for validation failures and lists the offending fields.

object
error
required
object
code
required
string
Allowed values: unauthenticated forbidden not_found bad_request conflict rate_limited internal_error
message
required
string
details
Array<object>
object
field
string
issue
required
string

Example

{
"error": {
"code": "unauthenticated",
"message": "Bearer token is missing or invalid"
}
}

The token doesn’t have the scope this endpoint requires. error.code is forbidden.

Media typeapplication/json

Canonical error envelope. code is stable across releases and intended for programmatic handling; message is human-readable. details only appears for validation failures and lists the offending fields.

object
error
required
object
code
required
string
Allowed values: unauthenticated forbidden not_found bad_request conflict rate_limited internal_error
message
required
string
details
Array<object>
object
field
string
issue
required
string

Example

{
"error": {
"code": "forbidden",
"message": "Token doesn't have the required scope"
}
}

Resource doesn’t exist or is outside the token’s space allow-list. The two cases share a response shape so a restricted token can’t probe for the existence of out-of-scope spaces. error.code is not_found.

Media typeapplication/json

Canonical error envelope. code is stable across releases and intended for programmatic handling; message is human-readable. details only appears for validation failures and lists the offending fields.

object
error
required
object
code
required
string
Allowed values: unauthenticated forbidden not_found bad_request conflict rate_limited internal_error
message
required
string
details
Array<object>
object
field
string
issue
required
string

Example

{
"error": {
"code": "not_found",
"message": "Not found"
}
}

Rate limit exceeded. error.code is rate_limited. Wait the number of seconds in the Retry-After header before retrying. Quotas are per-token; see the “Rate limiting” section at the top of this document.

Media typeapplication/json

Canonical error envelope. code is stable across releases and intended for programmatic handling; message is human-readable. details only appears for validation failures and lists the offending fields.

object
error
required
object
code
required
string
Allowed values: unauthenticated forbidden not_found bad_request conflict rate_limited internal_error
message
required
string
details
Array<object>
object
field
string
issue
required
string

Example

{
"error": {
"code": "rate_limited",
"message": "Rate limit of 1000 units per 60s exceeded (this request cost 5)"
}
}
Retry-After
integer
Example
12

Seconds to wait before retrying.