How to upload file without form using JavaScript ?

Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2021

There are several approaches to upload a file without using the form in JavaScript:

Approach 1: This approach is to use FormData that can upload a file without using any kind of form. The special thing about this is that network methods, such as fetch, can accept a FormData object as a body. It’s encoded and sent out with Content-Type — multipart/form-data.

JavaScript Snippet:

JavaScript

var gfg = new FormData();

gfg.append('pictureFile', 
        pictureInput.files[0]);

// upload.php is the file to be uploaded
$.ajax({
    url: 'upload.php',
    type: 'POST',
    processData: false,
    contentType: false,
    dataType: 'json',
    data: gfg
});

Approach 2: This approach is to use XMLHTTPRequest that can directly upload the file as the content inside the body of POST request.

JavaScript Snippet:

JavaScript

// JavaScript Code
var form = document.getElementById('the-form');

form.onsubmit = function () {
    var formData = new FormData(form);
    formData.append('file', file);
    var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();

    // Add any event handlers here...
    xhr.open('POST', form.getAttribute('action'), true);
    xhr.send(formData);

    // To avoid actual submission of the form
    return false; 
}

Approach 3: This approach is to use simpleUpload plugin.

HTML Code Snippet:

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<body>
    <h2>Welcome To GFG</h2>

    <input type="file" name="arquivo" 
        id="simpleUpload" multiple>
    
        <button type="button" id="upload">
            Upload
        </button>
</body>

</html>

JavaScript Snippet:

JavaScript

$('#simpleUpload').simpleUpload({

    // upload.php is the file
    // to be uploaded
    url: 'upload.php',
    trigger: '#upload',
    success: function (data) {
        alert('Successfully Uploaded');
    }
});