File uploads in Laravel - Mini Project: Build & Apply

File Uploads in Laravel

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple Laravel web app where users can upload profile pictures. The app needs to accept image files and store them safely on the server.

🎯 Goal: Build a Laravel file upload feature that accepts an image file from a form, validates it, and saves it to the storage/app/public directory.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a form with a file input named profile_picture

Add a validation rule to accept only image files

Store the uploaded file in the public disk

Return the stored file path after upload

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

File uploads are common in web apps for profile pictures, documents, and media. Handling uploads securely and correctly is essential.

💼 Career

Backend developers often implement file upload features. Knowing Laravel's file handling and validation is important for building real-world applications.

1

Create the file upload form

Create a Blade view file with a form that uses POST method and enctype="multipart/form-data". Add a file input with the name profile_picture and a submit button.

Laravel

    @csrf
    
    

Need a hint?

Remember to set enctype="multipart/form-data" on the form to allow file uploads.

2

Add route and controller method

In routes/web.php, add a POST route for /upload that uses UploadController@store. Then create UploadController with a store method stub.

Laravel

use App\Http\Controllers\UploadController;

// Add POST route for /upload
// Your code here

// Create UploadController with store method stub
// Your code here

Need a hint?

Use Route::post with the controller class and method array syntax.

3

Validate and store the uploaded file

In the store method, validate the profile_picture input to accept only image files. Then store the file on the public disk using store('profile_pictures', 'public'). Save the returned path in a variable called path.

Laravel

class UploadController extends Controller
{
    public function store(Request $request)
    {
        // Validate profile_picture as image
        // Store file on public disk in profile_pictures folder
        // Save path to $path
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use Laravel's validate method and the image rule to accept only images.

4

Return the stored file path

Complete the store method by returning the stored file path $path as a plain string response using return $path;.

Laravel

class UploadController extends Controller
{
    public function store(Request $request)
    {
        $request->validate([
            'profile_picture' => 'required|image'
        ]);

        $path = $request->file('profile_picture')->store('profile_pictures', 'public');

        // Return the stored file path
        // Your code here
    }
}

Need a hint?

Use return $path; to send back the stored file path as a response.