SharePoint REST API getFolderByServerRelativeUrl R

Question

I would like to drill into the library and then into a specified folder, but I am having problems getting 'getFolderByServerRelativeUrl' to grab anything for me.

This http://_base/_api/web/getFolderByServerRelativeUrl('LibName')/files returns zero results. But if I use http://_base/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('LibName')/items it returns multiple items.

Answer 1

/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('<list title>')/items endpoint returns all list items within a library, /_api/web/getFolderByServerRelativeUrl('<url>')/files returns only files located under (one level beneath only) the specified folder.

Example

Assume the following Documents library structure:

Documents (library)
   |
   Guides (folder)
     |
     SharePoint User Guide.docx (file)

Then, the following request:

/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('Documents')/items will return 2 items:

• list item associated with Guides folder
• list item associated with file

At the same time, the request: /_api/web/getFolderByServerRelativeUrl('Documents')/files

will returns 0 files since there are no files contained in the root folder

but the request with provided folder url: /_api/web/getFolderByServerRelativeUrl('Documents/Guides')/files

will return SharePoint User Guide.docx file.

Answer 2

You're using the wrong URL. Try appending it to the other URL.