# Sharing folders & layers

#### Overview

You can share folders and layers in Ellipsis Drive using multiple access models depending on how broadly you want to distribute your data.

Sharing can be applied at both Folder and Layer level.

***

### Sharing models

#### 1. Public or link-based access

You can make content [accessible via a link](https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/getting-started/quick-start/5.-data-sharing-and-user-access).

* **Link sharing**: accessible to anyone with the URL
* **Public access**: discoverable and accessible depending on configured permissions

A quick link can be generated and shared directly with users.

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#### 2. Direct user access

You can invite existing users directly to folders or layers.

This can be done via:

* [the user interface](https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/getting-started/quick-start/5.-data-sharing-and-user-access)
* [or the API](https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/developers/api-v3/users/invite-user)

Access permissions are applied immediately based on the role you assign.

***

#### 3. Email-based invitations

You can invite new users via email.

Invited users will receive an email prompting them to create an account and access the shared content.

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#### 4. OGC link sharing

You can [share OGC-compatible links](https://docs.ellipsis-drive.com/developers/integration-options/use-ellipsis-drive-layers-in-third-party-software) with embedded access tokens.

These links allow external tools or users to access the data directly, based on the permissions encoded in the link.

***

### Folder-level sharing

Folders can be shared to provide access to multiple layers at once.

When sharing a folder:

* users can browse its contents
* access all layers within the folder based on permissions
* open and use relevant datasets individually

This is useful for sharing complete projects or structured datasets.

***

{% hint style="success" %}

### **Key concept**

Sharing in Ellipsis Drive is permission-based and can be applied at different levels of granularity:

* Folder level (project-wide access)
* Layer level (dataset-specific access)
* Link-based access (external distribution)
  {% endhint %}


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