> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.sundevs.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Paste Viewer

> Read, share, download and embed a saved paste.

The viewer is the normal browser page for reading a saved paste. You can open it through either route; both load the same page:

* `/view/{slug}`
* `/api/v1/paste/{slug}`

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sundevs/elgk5NHmyF31vYbt/images/sunpaste/019dd8d81df3731c-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=elgk5NHmyF31vYbt&q=85&s=edae80ac9441b4269a8a40a951dee9e7" alt="Paste viewer" width="1918" height="998" data-path="images/sunpaste/019dd8d81df3731c-image.png" />
</Frame>

## What you see

The viewer shows:

* A header with a home link and the paste slug
* The pasted content in a read-only, syntax-highlighted editor
* A right-side tool panel

The tool panel includes a "Paste Info" card with:

* Language
* Visibility
* Creation time
* Burn-after-read badge when enabled
* Live expiration countdown when the paste has an expiration time

## Viewer actions

The tool panel includes `New Paste`, `Copy URL` and `Advanced Options`. The buttons inside `Advanced Options` depend on the paste:

* **Normal pastes:** `QR Code`, `Open Raw`, `Copy Raw URL`, `Embed`, `Download`, `Preview`
* **Password-protected pastes:** `QR Code`, `Preview` only. Raw, embed, and download are deliberately hidden.

If you are logged in, the viewer also shows `Dashboard`.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sundevs/elgk5NHmyF31vYbt/images/sunpaste/019dd8d8bdba7441-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=elgk5NHmyF31vYbt&q=85&s=cecf01bd40dbe5c5524c1b22bb127ab6" alt="Viewer advanced options" width="1918" height="998" data-path="images/sunpaste/019dd8d8bdba7441-image.png" />
</Frame>

| Action           | What it does                                                                                                                                                                     |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **New Paste**    | Takes you back to `/` to create a new paste.                                                                                                                                     |
| **Copy URL**     | Copies the current browser view URL.                                                                                                                                             |
| **QR Code**      | Opens a dialog with a QR preview and download buttons for `Small (200x200)`, `Medium (400x400)`, and `Large (800x800)`.                                                          |
| **Open Raw**     | Opens the raw text endpoint `/api/v1/raw/{slug}` in a new tab.                                                                                                                   |
| **Copy Raw URL** | Copies the raw endpoint URL.                                                                                                                                                     |
| **Embed**        | Shows an iframe snippet, a JavaScript widget snippet, and optional query parameters such as `theme`, `lines`, and `highlight`. Only available for non-password, non-burn pastes. |
| **Download**     | Opens `/api/v1/export/{slug}` to download the paste as a file. Plain text by default, unless you add a `format` query parameter.                                                 |
| **Preview**      | Toggles between highlighted source and preview mode (useful for Markdown, HTML, JSON, CSV). Disabled for pastes larger than about `512 KB`.                                      |

## Special viewer states

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Password-protected paste" icon="lock">
    * You see a password card instead of the content
    * Entering the correct password unlocks the paste
    * Entering the wrong password shows an inline error
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Burn-after-read paste" icon="fire">
    * You first see a warning page telling you the paste will be destroyed after opening
    * Clicking `View & Destroy This Paste` reveals the content and deletes it immediately afterward
    * Once the burn completes, a banner tells you the paste has already been destroyed
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Expired paste" icon="clock">
    * The viewer shows an expired message
    * The raw and API endpoints return `410 Gone`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Private paste" icon="user-lock">
    * The viewer shows a "Private Paste" message with `Log in to view` and `Create a new paste`
    * Only the paste owner or an admin can open a private paste
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Shared link requires login" icon="right-to-bracket">
    If playground private mode is enabled and the paste is not private:

    * Anonymous visitors cannot open the shared view link
    * The viewer shows a "Login Required" page
    * After login, SunPaste redirects you back to the requested paste when possible
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Not found" icon="circle-question">
    If the slug does not exist, the viewer shows a "Paste Not Found" page.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Large pastes

Large non-burn pastes are streamed from the raw endpoint, which avoids loading everything through the normal initial render path.

Large burn-after-read pastes are loaded server-side first, then burned, so the content still displays correctly on the last view.


## Related topics

- [SunPaste](/sunpaste/overview.md)
- [API & Sharing Endpoints](/sunpaste/reference/api-and-sharing.md)
- [Home / Playground](/sunpaste/core-concepts/home-page.md)
- [Settings](/sunpaste/admin/settings.md)
- [Core Concepts](/sunpaste/core-concepts.md)