FileBrowser is an open-source, self-hosted file management interface that runs as a single binary with no external dependencies. It provides a web-based interface for browsing, uploading, editing, and sharing files on a remote server, with a core architecture built on JWT-based stateless authentication and a rule-based path permission engine that controls access at the directory level.
The project distinguishes itself through a comprehensive access control system that supports multi-provider authentication including OIDC, LDAP, external JWT, and two-factor authentication, alongside granular permission rules that can be applied per user or group. It offers a hash-linked share system for controlled external file access with configurable expiration, password protection, and download limits, and exposes file operations through both a REST API and the WebDAV protocol for integration with desktop clients and external tools.
The interface includes in-browser editing for text and office documents, a filesystem-wide search index for instant file lookup, and support for media previews. Deployment is available across Linux, macOS, Windows, and Docker, with configuration managed through a single YAML or JSON file.
