How can I select and upload multiple files with HTML and PHP, using HTTP POST?
Question
I have experience doing this with single file uploads using <input type="file">. However, I am having trouble doing uploading more than one at a time.
For example, I'd like to be able to select a series of images, then upload them to the server, all at once.
It would be great to use a single file input control, if possible.
Does anyone know how to accomplish this? Thanks!
Accepted Answer
This is possible in HTML5. Example (PHP 5.4):
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
<input type="file" name="my_file[]" multiple>
<input type="submit" value="Upload">
</form>
<?php
if (isset($_FILES['my_file'])) {
$myFile = $_FILES['my_file'];
$fileCount = count($myFile["name"]);
for ($i = 0; $i < $fileCount; $i++) {
?>
<p>File #<?= $i+1 ?>:</p>
<p>
Name: <?= $myFile["name"][$i] ?><br>
Temporary file: <?= $myFile["tmp_name"][$i] ?><br>
Type: <?= $myFile["type"][$i] ?><br>
Size: <?= $myFile["size"][$i] ?><br>
Error: <?= $myFile["error"][$i] ?><br>
</p>
<?php
}
}
?>
</body>
</html>
Here's what it looks like in Chrome after selecting 2 items in the file dialog:
And here's what it looks like after clicking the "Upload" button.
This is just a sketch of a fully working answer. See PHP Manual: Handling file uploads for more information on proper, secure handling of file uploads in PHP.
Popular Answer
There are a few things you need to do to create a multiple file upload, its pretty basic actually. You don't need to use Java, Ajax, Flash. Just build a normal file upload form starting off with:
<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="post_upload.php" method="POST">
Then the key to success;
<input type="file" name="file[]" multiple />
do NOT forget those brackets! In the post_upload.php try the following:
<?php print_r($_FILES['file']['tmp_name']); ?>
Notice you get an array with tmp_name data, which will mean you can access each file with an third pair of brackets with the file 'number' example:
$_FILES['file']['tmp_name'][0]
You can use php count() to count the number of files that was selected. Goodluck widdit!