WebDAVin

WebDAVin is an extension concept for the WebDAV protocol aimed at enhancing collaborative file management and synchronization over HTTP. It introduces features such as enhanced locking, versioning, and metadata handling while remaining interoperable with standard WebDAV clients in a limited or read-only mode. WebDAVin is not an official standard, and published specifications are typically drafts or experimental, with implementations varying by project.

Core features of WebDAVin include fine-grained locking with both optimistic and pessimistic modes, server-side version control with changelists, and delta-based synchronization to minimize data transfer. Metadata models allow custom attributes on resources, and a resource property store can be queried through PROPFIND-like mechanisms. Real-time notifications via server-sent events or WebHooks enable clients to react promptly to changes.

Architecturally, a WebDAVin server hosts resources under HTTP(S) URLs and exposes extended endpoints for locking, versioning, and metadata operations. Clients communicate using standard WebDAV methods (GET, PUT, PROPFIND) plus additional WebDAVin methods or headers to access extended features. The approach typically relies on authenticated sessions, often via OAuth2 or similar token-based systems.

In practice, WebDAVin can operate in a layered mode with standard WebDAV for basic access, while enhanced features are negotiated through capability discovery. Several experimental libraries and server plugins exist in open-source projects, but broad adoption remains limited and there is no universal implementation standard.

WebDAVin is best suited for collaborative editors, media libraries, and content management systems that require multi-user editing, audit trails, and robust conflict resolution. Limitations include the lack of universal compatibility, evolving specifications, and potential performance overhead in certain deployments.

See also WebDAV, WebDAV extensions, and file synchronization protocols.