---
title: "Instant synchronization for web and mobile apps"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/get-started/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/get-started.md"
last_updated: "2026-06-08T09:14:14.341Z"
description: "Discover how to implement real-time collaboration features with Instant Sync for your web and mobile applications."
---

# Integrate real-time collaboration with instant sync

To get started with Instant, you need to have the Instant component enabled in your license. If you’re trialing Nutrient, all features will be enabled.

Next, to facilitate real-time syncing between multiple clients, you need a central server. This is where [Document Engine](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine.md) comes into play; it’ll serve as a central point to ensure all clients see the same state. Document Engine serves as the backend when implementing real-time collaboration features into your web and mobile applications.

Refer to the getting started guide for the platform you’re looking to implement real-time collaboration for from the list below:

**[Get Started with Instant Sync on iOS](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/pspdfkit-instant/getting-started.md)**\
Add real-time collaboration features to your iOS applications

**[Get Started with Instant Sync on Android](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/android/pspdfkit-instant/getting-started.md)**\
Add real-time collaboration features to your Android applications

**[Get Started with Instant Sync on Web](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/web/pspdfkit-instant/getting-started.md)**\
Add real-time collaboration features to your web (browser-based) applications

**[Get Started with Instant Sync on Flutter](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/flutter/instant-synchronization/get-started.md)**\
Add real-time collaboration features to your Flutter applications

**[Get Started with Instant Sync on React Native](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/react-native/instant-synchronization/get-started.md)**\
Add real-time collaboration features to your React Native applications

## Permissions

If you have the [Collaboration Permissions](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/permissions/overview.md) license feature enabled, you also have access to a granular permission system, which allows you to control what each user can see and do. To use it, you have to include the `collaboration_permissions` and `user_id` properties in your [JSON Web Token](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/authentication.md) (JWT).

Here’s how this might look:

```json

// JWT claims:

{...otherProperties,
  "collaboration_permissions": [
    "annotations:view:all",
    "annotations:edit:all"
  ],
  "user_id": "user-12345"
};

```

The presence of `collaboration_permissions` and `user_id` is mandatory for enabling Collaboration Permissions.

If the Collaboration Permissions feature is enabled, all its associated actions are disabled unless you manually allow them. For example, `collaboration_permissions: []` means users won’t be able to view any annotation, comment, or form field on a PDF. If `collaboration_permissions` isn’t present in the JWT, then Collaboration Permissions will automatically be disabled, and users will be able to perform every action without any restriction.

In the code above, `collaboration_permissions` is an array of permission strings. The permission strings define the permissions that have been granted to the user. Each string consists of three parts written in the `<content-type>:<action>:<scope>` format. You can learn more about different possible values of content type, action, and scope in the [defining permissions](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/permissions/set-permissions.md) guide.
---

## Related pages

- [Choose the right collaboration and synchronization setup](/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/choose-the-right-collaboration-and-synchronization-setup.md)
- [Authenticate clients with JWT in Document Engine](/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/authentication.md)
- [Instant sync and real-time collaboration](/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization.md)
- [Document layers for all workflows](/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/instant-layers.md)
- [Adding comments to PDFs on web and mobile](/guides/document-engine/instant-synchronization/comments.md)