THE FINAL HANDOFF
The export is ready.
Now make it useful.
Choose a delivery pattern for exported files, with clear access boundaries, expiration, completion signals, and recoverable failure handling.
Match delivery to the recipient
A person may need a simple download. An internal process may expect a controlled object-storage location. A partner integration may need a completion event and a file reference. Choose the delivery method based on who consumes the file and how they confirm receipt.
ExportAPI.com’s examples use direct sample downloads. Production workflows need their own authorization, storage, and delivery implementation.
Control the lifetime of the artifact
Specify when the file becomes available, how long it remains retrievable, and who can obtain a new download link. A completed job and an expired artifact should be distinct states. Retention should reflect the purpose of the export and the sensitivity of its data.
The secure delivery guide examines link sharing, authentication, and access checks.
Separate notifications from the source of truth
Use a status record as the durable account of the job. A webhook can notify consumers of a change, but duplicates and delayed messages should not cause repeated downstream actions. Keep event identity, job identity, and artifact identity explicit.
Read webhook retry and idempotency patterns to design a handoff that can recover from interruption.
A good place to start
Make your first export.
Four real sample files. One fictional dataset. A clear next step for your project.