Introduction

Get a high-level intro to the Sanity Software Development Kit (SDK)

The Sanity Application Software Development Kit, or App SDK for short, is a robust set of tooling that will let you create fully custom apps that interface and interact with your Sanity content. It brings the powerful real-time capabilities and content management features you know from Sanity Studio to your own custom React applications. With a comprehensive set of React hooks and data stores, you can easily build applications that work seamlessly with your Sanity content across multiple projects and datasets.

In this introduction to the App SDK we will explore how to build applications that interact with your Sanity content in real-time. We'll cover the core concepts and patterns that make the App SDK powerful, demonstrate how to efficiently retrieve and manipulate documents, and show you how to create responsive user interfaces that stay in sync with your content.

By the end of this guide, you'll understand:

• How Document Handles enable efficient document operations
• When to use different hooks for retrieving and updating content
• Best practices for building performant real-time applications
• How to work with content across multiple projects and datasets

The App SDK is a toolkit for building custom React applications that interact with your Sanity content. It provides a set of React hooks and data stores that enable real-time content operations, seamlessly handling content from multiple projects and datasets, and with complete freedom to create your own interfaces and experiences.

- Build fully custom applications that work with Sanity content
- Enable real-time content operations and live updates
- Work across multiple projects and datasets
- Create tailored user experiences beyond what Studio offers

It's worthwhile to pause briefly to take a comparative look at Sanity Studio, and how it relates to the App SDK. Sanity Studio is a content management powerhouse, and for many Sanity users, Studio is Sanity. Or, in other words, their studio is the main interface through which they interact with the Sanity platform. The ambition of the App SDK is to enable you to build apps that work beyond the scope of a single studio, project, and dataset, unlocking opportunities for new content workflows and operations — all while allowing you complete freedom over your application’s UI and UX.

• Real-time content operations
• Live updates and collaboration features
• Access to Sanity's content platform
• Authentication and permissions handling

• Multiple Projects and Datasets: While Studios can work with a single project and dataset at a time, SDK apps can be configured to work with as many of your organization’s projects and datasets as you like
• Complete UI Freedom: Unlike Studio's structured interface, you control every aspect of the UI
• Custom Workflows: Build exactly the workflow your users need
• Focused Feature Set: No built-in validation or form building - bring your favourite UI components with you, and shape the functionality just as you want it

• TypeScript for type safety and developer experience
• React for application framework and hooks
• Built on modern React patterns including Suspense

• React v19 or higher
• Node.js environment v20 or higher

• React hook based interface, taking advantage of modern React patterns like Suspense and Transitions
• Document retrieval and content rendering, all live by default
• Optimistic, local-first document editing, ready for collaborative interfaces
• Batchable document actions
• Permissions checking with detailed outputs
• Support for Sanity Typegen

• UI components or design system
  • However, the App SDK pairs nicely with Sanity UI for building applications that are visually consistent with other Sanity apps
• Router
• Form validation
• Schema validation

These aspects are left to your implementation, giving you complete control over the user experience while the SDK handles the complex data operations underneath.