How to Upload Multiple Files Using HTML File Input in PHP

Описание: Learn how to easily upload multiple files with HTML file inputs and PHP. Step-by-step guide for handling file upload errors and implementing best practices.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/75271702/ asked by the user 'MrObscure' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12021185/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/75274526/ provided by the user 'danlarson' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19439429/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Uploading Multiple Files Using HTML File Input in PHP

Uploading files is a common feature in web applications, and handling multiple file uploads can pose specific challenges. If you've tried uploading multiple files but encountered an "Uploaded data error" message, you're not alone. Let’s break down how to effectively upload multiple files using an HTML file input and PHP.

Understanding the Problem

When you attempt to upload multiple files in PHP, the structure of the $_FILES array changes significantly compared to uploading a single file. This challenges the way you handle the upload in your server-side PHP code. The key issue arises when you attempt to check for file upload errors using the wrong structure of the $_FILES array, which leads to failure in recognizing the error correctly.

Example of the Problematic Code

Here's a brief look at part of the HTML and JavaScript code that adds functionality for file uploads:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With this structure, when files are uploaded, the server sees $_FILES["uploadedFile"] as an array of arrays, creating complexity in error handling.

Crafting the Solution

Below, we will address the problem of file upload errors systematically. We'll start by checking how the data is structured and follow with the adjusted PHP code for handling multiple file uploads correctly.

Step 1: Adjusting the PHP Code

To handle multiple file uploads, we need to iterate over the array of uploaded files. Below is an adjusted version of the PHP code you need:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Summary of Key Changes

Iterate Over Uploaded Files: Use a for loop to go through each uploaded file instead of checking them all at once.

Error Checking: Each file's error state is checked individually.

File Validation: Include checks for file size and type to ensure the uploads meet your specifications.

Feedback on Success or Failure: Provide user feedback for each file uploaded.

Conclusion

In summary, when uploading multiple files using HTML file input in PHP, it's crucial to correctly handle the structure of the $_FILES array. With this straightforward approach and by implementing the provided PHP adjustments, you can efficiently manage multiple file uploads without running into common errors. Now that you've learned this, you can enhance your web applications by allowing users to upload several files at once seamlessly.