How to convert file to base64 in JavaScript?

Question

Now I'm getting File object by this line:

file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0]

I need to send this file via json in base 64. What should I do to convert it to base64 string?

Answer 1

Building up on Dmitri Pavlutin and joshua.paling answers, here's an extended version that extracts the base64 content (removes the metadata at the beginning) and also ensures padding is done correctly.

function getBase64(file) {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    const reader = new FileReader();
    reader.readAsDataURL(file);
    reader.onload = () => {
      let encoded = reader.result.replace(/^data:(.*;base64,)?/, '');
      if ((encoded.length % 4) > 0) {
        encoded += '='.repeat(4 - (encoded.length % 4));
      }
      resolve(encoded);
    };
    reader.onerror = error => reject(error);
  });
}

Answer 2

Here are a couple functions I wrote to get a file in a json format which can be passed around easily:

    //takes an array of JavaScript File objects
    function getFiles(files) {
        return Promise.all(files.map(file => getFile(file)));
    }

    //take a single JavaScript File object
    function getFile(file) {
        var reader = new FileReader();
        return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
            reader.onerror = () => { reader.abort(); reject(new Error("Error parsing file"));}
            reader.onload = function () {

                //This will result in an array that will be recognized by C#.NET WebApi as a byte[]
                let bytes = Array.from(new Uint8Array(this.result));

                //if you want the base64encoded file you would use the below line:
                let base64StringFile = btoa(bytes.map((item) => String.fromCharCode(item)).join(""));

                //Resolve the promise with your custom file structure
                resolve({ 
                    bytes: bytes,
                    base64StringFile: base64StringFile,
                    fileName: file.name, 
                    fileType: file.type
                });
            }
            reader.readAsArrayBuffer(file);
        });
    }

    //using the functions with your file:

    file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0]
    getFile(file).then((customJsonFile) => {
         //customJsonFile is your newly constructed file.
         console.log(customJsonFile);
    });

    //if you are in an environment where async/await is supported

    files = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files
    let customJsonFiles = await getFiles(files);
    //customJsonFiles is an array of your custom files
    console.log(customJsonFiles);

Answer 3

JavaScript btoa() function can be used to convert data into base64 encoded string

Answer 4

If you're after a promise-based solution, this is @Dmitri's code adapted for that:

function getBase64(file) {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    const reader = new FileReader();
    reader.readAsDataURL(file);
    reader.onload = () => resolve(reader.result);
    reader.onerror = error => reject(error);
  });
}

var file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0];
getBase64(file).then(
  data => console.log(data)
);

Answer 5

Try the solution using the FileReader class:

function getBase64(file) {
   var reader = new FileReader();
   reader.readAsDataURL(file);
   reader.onload = function () {
     console.log(reader.result);
   };
   reader.onerror = function (error) {
     console.log('Error: ', error);
   };
}

var file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0];
getBase64(file); // prints the base64 string

Notice that .files[0] is a File type, which is a sublcass of Blob. Thus it can be used with FileReader.
See the complete working example.