---
title: Raw Serve URL — Direct File Access
url: https://docs.kaltura.com/docs/rich-media-cms-apis/content-management/content-delivery-raw-serve-url-direct-file-access
---

## Raw Serve URL — Direct File Access


The `raw` URL serves the **original source file** for any entry type — documents, data entries, images, SVGs, videos, or audio. Unlike `playManifest` (which returns adaptive streaming manifests) or the thumbnail API (which returns transformed images), `raw` returns the file exactly as uploaded.

**URL pattern:**

```
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/\{PARTNER_ID\}/raw/entry_id/\{ENTRY_ID\}/{param}/{value}/...
```


### Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `direct_serve` | bool | When `1`/`true`, serves inline (no Content-Disposition download prompt) |
| `forceproxy` | bool | When `1`/`true`, proxies the file through the server instead of redirecting |
| `file_name` | string | Sets the `Content-Disposition` filename for downloads |
| `format` | string | File extension to select a specific flavor (e.g., `mp4`, `mov`) |
| `type` | string | Set to `download` for format-specific download |
| `version` | string | Data version (for data entries) |
| `ks` | string | Kaltura Session for access-controlled entries |
| `referrer` | string | Base64-encoded referrer for domain restrictions |

### Behavior by Entry Type

| Entry Type | Behavior |
|------------|----------|
| **Image** | Serves the original uploaded image file |
| **Video/Audio** | Serves original source flavor, falls back to best web-playable flavor |
| **Document** | Serves document file with `Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *` |
| **Data** | Serves the data file, redirects if on remote storage |

### Examples


```bash
# Serve an SVG inline in the browser
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/$KALTURA_PARTNER_ID/raw/entry_id/$KALTURA_ENTRY_ID/direct_serve/1/forceproxy/true/logo.svg

# Serve a PDF (prompts download — no direct_serve)
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/$KALTURA_PARTNER_ID/raw/entry_id/$KALTURA_ENTRY_ID/forceproxy/true/report.pdf

# Serve original source video inline (native browser player)
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/$KALTURA_PARTNER_ID/raw/entry_id/$KALTURA_ENTRY_ID/direct_serve/1/forceproxy/true/video.mp4

# Access-controlled entry (append KS)
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/$KALTURA_PARTNER_ID/raw/entry_id/$KALTURA_ENTRY_ID/ks/$KALTURA_KS/direct_serve/1/forceproxy/true/file.zip
```


### When to Use Raw vs Other Methods

| Method | Use Case |
|--------|----------|
| **`raw`** | Original uploaded file (SVGs, source video, documents, data files, original images) |
| **`playManifest`** | Adaptive video/audio playback (HLS, DASH). Returns transcoded renditions, not source file |
| **`download`** | Like raw but with additional flavor selection and access control context |
| **Thumbnail API** | Images when you need resizing, cropping, format conversion, or video frame extraction |