File upload is a crucial feature in modern web applications, allowing users to upload various types of files such as profile pictures, documents, media uploads, and administrative tools. Laravel simplifies file handling by providing a straightforward method for uploading files, including validation, storage, and best practices.
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🔹 Why File Uploads Matter
* File uploads are essential in social media, forums, resumes, and PDFs.
* They are everywhere, making file handling a must for every Laravel beginner.
* File uploads are essential for various scenarios, such as profile pictures, documents, media uploads, and administrative tools.
🔹 Step 1: Create a Route
* Two routes are created: one for displaying the upload form and another for handling the upload.
* The first route is for the index action, which displays the upload form.
* The second route is for the store action, which handles the file upload.
🔹 Step 2: Build the Controller
* The FileUploadController extends the Controller class and provides a method for file upload.
* The index action uses the File upload is one of the most common features in modern web applications — whether it’s profile pictures, resumes, PDFs, or images. Luckily, Laravel makes file handling incredibly simple and secure with built-in methods.
In this article, we’ll walk through a step-by-step guide to uploading files in Laravel, complete with validation, storage, and best practices.
🔹 Why File Uploads Matter
Here are some real-world scenarios where file uploads are essential:
- 👤 Profile Pictures – Social media & forums
- 📑 Documents – Resumes, reports, PDFs
- 🎬 Media Uploads – Images, videos, audio files
- ⚙️ Admin Tools – Uploading configuration files
File uploads are everywhere — and mastering them is a must for every Laravel beginner.
🔹 Step 1: Create a Route
We need two routes: one for displaying the upload form, and another for handling the upload.
use App\Http\Controllers\FileUploadController;
Route::get('/upload', [FileUploadController::class, 'index']);
Route::post('/upload', [FileUploadController::class, 'store'])->name('file.upload');
🔹 Step 2: Build the Controller
Laravel makes file handling painless with $request->file().
<?php
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
class FileUploadController extends Controller
{
public function index()
{
return view('upload');
}
public function store(Request $request)
{
// Validate file
$request->validate([
'file' => 'required|mimes:jpg,png,pdf|max:2048',
]);
// Store file inside storage/app/public/uploads
$path = $request->file('file')->store('uploads', 'public');
// Return success message
return back()
->with('success', 'File uploaded successfully!')
->with('file', $path);
}
}
🔹 Step 3: Create the Blade View
Now let’s create a simple form for file uploads.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Laravel File Upload</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Upload a File</h2>
@if(session('success'))
<p style="color: green;">{{ session('success') }}</p>
<p>File Path: {{ session('file') }}</p>
@endif
<form action="{{ route('file.upload') }}" method="POST" enctype="multipart/form-data">
@csrf
<input type="file" name="file">
<button type="submit">Upload</button>
</form>
@error('file')
<p style="color: red;">{{ $message }}</p>
@enderror
</body>
</html>
⚡ Notice the important attribute:
enctype="multipart/form-data"
This is required for file uploads.
🔹 Step 4: Storage Setup
By default, Laravel stores files in storage/app. If you want to access them via the browser, run:
php artisan storage:link
This creates a public/storage link, making your uploaded files accessible.
🔹 Best Practices for File Uploads
✅ Validate file types – prevent harmful uploads
✅ Limit file size – avoid server overload
✅ Use storage disks (public, s3, etc.)
✅ Keep sensitive files private
✅ Handle unique file names – Laravel’s store() does this automatically
💡 Key Takeaway
Uploading files in Laravel is beginner-friendly yet powerful. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can extend this to:
- 📂 Multiple file uploads
- ☁️ Cloud storage (AWS S3, DigitalOcean Spaces)
- 🖼️ Image resizing & optimization
🚀 Next Steps
👉 Try extending this tutorial to multiple file uploads
👉 Experiment with cloud storage instead of local
👉 Secure sensitive files by storing them outside public
🙌 Wrapping Up
File uploads are a core skill in Laravel development. With just a few lines of code, you can handle files securely and efficiently.
