# NodeJS File Upload Using Multer


Fork or clone the source code here

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1621504980800/A1MZnhIJu.png)

Multer is a Node.js middleware, used to upload or handle multipart/form-data, on the top of Busboy. Here I’ll explain the basic procedure of uploading a file in Node.js server.

## Work-Flow

* First Get the [seed code](https://github.com/bmshamsnahid/File-Upload-Using-Multer/tree/master/seed%20code).

* Install dependencies.

* Create database named myproject.

* Install multer dependency.

* Configure [multer](https://www.npmjs.com/package/multer).

* Voila!!! test through Postman

## REQUIREMENTS

1. [***Node.js(6.x)](https://nodejs.org/en/)***

1. [***NPM(3.x)](https://www.npmjs.com/)***

1. [***Express.js(4.x)](https://expressjs.com/)***

## APP SETUP

Get the [seed code from here](https://github.com/bmshamsnahid/File-Upload-Using-Multer/tree/master/seed%20code).

First install all the node modules:

```
npm install
```


Create database named, myProject.

```
mongo
use myproject
```


Now run the project using

```
node server.js
or 
nodemon
```


You have to see the line in console

```
The magic happens on port 8080
```


## Multer Configaration

Install multer

```
npm install --save multer
```


Add the multer object to your routing file, ***routes/user/index.js***

```
var multer = require('multer');
```


We will upload the file in ***public/images/uploads*** directory. So our multer will contain the following configaration:

```
var storage = multer.diskStorage({
    destination: (req, file, cb) => {
      cb(null, 'public/images/uploads')
    },
    filename: (req, file, cb) => {
      cb(null, file.fieldname + '-' + Date.now())
    }
});
var upload = multer({storage: storage});
```


Now the multer is ready to upload the file in ***public/images/uploads*** folder

## App Routing

Now we add the multer configuration in the routing file and add a dummy routing.

Now the ***routes/user/index.js*** will be looked like:

```
var express = require('express');
var router = express.Router();
var MongoClient = require('mongodb').MongoClient;
var assert = require('assert');
var url = 'mongodb://localhost:27017/myproject';

var multer = require('multer');
var storage = multer.diskStorage({
    destination: (req, file, cb) => {
      cb(null, 'public/images/uploads')
    },
    filename: (req, file, cb) => {
      cb(null, file.fieldname + '-' + Date.now())
    }
});
var upload = multer({storage: storage});

router.post('/fileUpload', upload.single('image'), (req, res, next) => {
    MongoClient.connect(url, (err, db) => {
        assert.equal(null, err);
        insertDocuments(db, 'public/images/uploads/' + req.file.filename, () => {
            db.close();
            res.json({'message': 'File uploaded successfully'});
        });
    });
});

module.exports = router;

var insertDocuments = function(db, filePath, callback) {
    var collection = db.collection('user');
    collection.insertOne({'imagePath' : filePath }, (err, result) => {
        assert.equal(err, null);
        callback(result);
    });
}
```


Now our code is ready for test.

## Test

We will perform API test using Postman:

In postman

```
Request Type: POST
Address: [http://localhost:8080/user/fileUpload](http://localhost:8080/user/fileUpload)
Body: form-data
Header: Null
Key: image
value: select a file from your machine
```


![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1621504982854/s3JG03umt.png)

Now In your project structure, ***public/images/uploads***, you will find the uploaded file and as well as in the database of myproject the file path is saved already.

## Conclusion

So Here we are, completed the basic file uploading using multer in node.js and express.js server. Stay tuned and if there is a confusing term or something, response below or create an issue in [***github](https://github.com/bmshamsnahid/File-Upload-Using-Multer)***.