The SAF package is a Flutter plugin designed for Android that integrates with the Storage Access Framework (SAF) API, enabling users to securely access and manage files and folders across external storage. It simplifies file operations such as reading, writing, and selecting directories through a standardized system interface. This plugin enhances file handling in apps requiring access to shared or external storage without needing broad permissions. It's particularly useful for applications that need to interact with documents, media, or user-managed files in a privacy-conscious way.
Use cases
- Accessing external storage on Android
- Selecting and managing files via SAF
- Reading and writing files in shared directories
- Building document-centric apps
- Enabling file browsing with system UI
- Supporting scoped storage compliance
Key features
- Android-only SAF integration
- Secure file access via system APIs
- Built-in file picker dialog
- Supports read/write operations
- Scoped storage compatible
- Minimal permission requirements
Suitable for
- Document management apps
- Media file handlers
- File backup tools
- Apps requiring external storage access
- Developers targeting Android scoped storage
Considerations
- Limited to Android platform
- Requires Android SDK 21+
- Depends on system-level SAF availability
- May require user interaction for file selection
- Not suitable for iOS or desktop platforms