Misc Drag & Drop JavaScript File Uploader With Filestack

File upload is undoubtedly a core feature of many modern web apps and websites. For example, users can upload images and videos on social media websites or documents, such as CVs and resumes, on a company website. Developers need to ensure a file uploader is fast, secure, and user-friendly. One way to improve user experience is to implement a drag and drop JavaScript file uploader. Many users find a drag and drop file uploader more convenient and quicker, but it can sometimes be challenging for developers to create a drag and drop file uploader. However, implementing a file is quick and easy with a tool like Filestack, which provides different file upload SDKs, such as file uploader JavaScript, file uploader java, file uploader React, and more.

In this article, we'll discuss different problems developers face while creating a drag and drop file uploader. We'll also show you how you can easily implement drag and drop JS file uploader with Filestack.

What Are The Features Of File Uploader?

A file uploader consists of a front-end file upload button that enables users to upload files, such as images, documents, etc., to the website or web app. For example, whenever you upload an image or video on Facebook or Instagram, you use a file upload button.

When a user uploads an image, a file uploader should show an image preview for a better user experience. We can also enhance the user experience by enabling multiple file uploads and displaying progress bars for uploads. Once a file is uploaded, we need to send it to the backend and store it on the server.

A file uploader must also be able to handle large files efficiently. A best practice is to split a large file into chunks and send these chunks to the server one by one periodically. Doing this will prevent errors and improve speed.

What Is A Drag and Drop File Uploader, And Why Do We Need It?

A drag and drop file uploader provides a graphical user interface for uploading files to a website or web app. When you add this functionality, users can simply drag and drop files on your webpage or web applications. For example, users can drag images from their OS and drop them on your website. Dragging and dropping can also be done from one browser to another browser.

When a user drags an image file or document over the specified drag area in the file uploader, the border of the uploader changes to solid. When you release the file, the uploader will show a progress bar. For image files, the uploader also shows a preview.

Many companies now add a drag and drop file uploader to their websites and web apps because it looks better compared to traditional file uploaders. Additionally, drag and drop file uploaders are easier to use, and they improve user experience.

What Are The Common Issues With A Drag And Drop File Uploader?

Some of the common issues with drag and drop file uploads include:

• Every day many file uploads fail because most networks are not optimized to accelerate uploads - they're only optimized to speed up downloads. Hence, unreliable uploads are a big issue in a drag and drop file uploader.
• Many mobile browsers aren't compatible with the file upload API. As a result, drag and drop file uploader doesn't work on such mobile devices.
• On a desktop, a traditional file uploader can sometimes be more convenient than a drag and drop uploader as users have to switch and minimize windows to drag files and drop them on the uploader.
• Cyber attackers can deploy malware and virus on your system through file uploads. This is a problem with any type of file uploader. However, you can ensure file uploaders are secure by limiting file sizes, scanning files for malware, and verifying file types.
• Creating a drag and drop file uploader from scratch can be time-consuming and expensive. You'll also need to CDN for fast and smooth file uploads.

What Is Filestack And Why Is It A Good Choice For Implementing Drag And Drop JavaScript File Uploader?

Many JavaScript libraries allow developers to implement a drag and drop file upload feature, but they have many problems. However, we find Filestack a reliable option for creating a JavaScript file uploader with just a few lines of code. Filestack is a set of powerful tools and APIs that enable users to upload, transform and deliver content with ease.

Here are the reasons why we opt for Filestack:

• Filestack has a CDN for uploads which helps with fast and reliable file uploads.
• Filestack's Intelligent Ingestion automatically detects network conditions, browser, and device type and then intelligently decides the best way to upload the file. It responds to changing network conditions automatically by adjusting package sizes and has successful uploads 99.999% of the time.
• With Filestack, mobile uploads are also 100X more reliable. It gives you the same upload technology used by internet giants, and you don't have to worry about maintaining it.
• Filestack provides an attractive drag and drop file uploader that makes your web app more user-friendly. It also offers a preview feature, allowing users to preview the files before uploading them.
• Filestack also supports multiple file uploads, which means users can select and upload multiple files simultaneously.
• With Filestack's responsive interface, file uploading is convenient and efficient across devices.
• Filestack splits files into chunks to ensure fast and smooth uploads, especially for large files.
• Filestack even supports image editing and transformation. You can apply filters and effects, fix noise, fix underexposed photos, and more. It also enables users to resize images and convert images to different image file types.

How To Implement A Drag And Drop File Uploader With Filestack?

Before you implement the drag and drop file uploader, you first need the Filestack API key. The Filestack Drag and Drop is an open-source JavaScript SDK. Here is how you can integrate it into your web app:

First, include the UMD module in your code:

Now add an element to your page: Finally, initialize Filestack Drag and Drop: That's it. Now you have a drag and drop file uploader on your page.

Here is an example initialization with Filestack Client:

Conclusion

A drag and drop file uploader makes it easy to upload files and improves the user experience on your website. However, implementing drag and drop file upload functionality can be challenging. We recommend using Filestack file upload API for quick, secure, and reliable drag and drop file uploads.

You can find all the coding examples provided in the article here.