Web/API/File

The File interface provides information about files and allows JavaScript in a web page to access their content.

File objects are generally retrieved from a FileList object returned as a result of a user selecting files using the <input> element, from a drag and drop operation's DataTransfer object, or from the mozGetAsFile() API on an HTMLCanvasElement.

A File object is a specific kind of a Blob, and can be used in any context that a Blob can. In particular, FileReader, URL.createObjectURL(), createImageBitmap(), and XMLHttpRequest.send() accept both Blobs and Files.

See Using files from web applications for more information and examples.

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Constructor

File(): Returns a newly constructed File.

Instance properties

File.prototype.lastModified Read only: Returns the last modified time of the file, in millisecond since the UNIX epoch (January 1st, 1970 at Midnight).
File.prototype.lastModifiedDate ' Read only: Returns the last modified Date of the file referenced by the File object.
File.prototype.nameRead only: Returns the name of the file referenced by the File object.
File.prototype.webkitRelativePath ' Read only: Returns the path the URL of the File is relative to.

File implements Blob, so it also has the following properties available to it:

File.prototype.size Read only: Returns the size of the file in bytes.
File.prototype.type Read only: Returns the MIME type of the file.

Instance methods

The File interface doesn't define any methods, but inherits methods from the Blob interface:

Blob.prototype.slice([start[, end[, contentType])]]: Returns a new Blob object containing the data in the specified range of bytes of the source Blob.
Blob.prototype.stream(): Transforms the File into a ReadableStream that can be used to read the File contents.
Blob.prototype.text(): Transforms the File into a stream and reads it to completion. It returns a promise that resolves with a USVString (text).
Blob.prototype.arrayBuffer(): Transforms the File into a stream and reads it to completion. It returns a promise that resolves with an ArrayBuffer.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
File APIThe definition of 'The `File` interface' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`File`	Chrome Full support 13	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 7 Full support 7 No support 3 — 7 Notes' Notes' Non-standard implementation.	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 11.5	Safari Full support 6	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 7 Full support 7 No support 4 — 7 Notes' Notes' Non-standard implementation.	Opera Android Full support 11.5	Safari iOS Full support 6	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
`File()` constructor	Chrome Full support 38	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 28	IE No support No	Opera Full support 25	Safari Full support 10	WebView Android Full support 38	Chrome Android Full support 38	Firefox Android Full support 28	Opera Android Full support 25	Safari iOS Full support 10	Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0
`lastModified`	Chrome Full support 13	Edge Full support 18	Firefox Full support 15	IE No support No	Opera Full support 16	Safari Full support 10	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android No support No	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 10	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`lastModifiedDate` Deprecated'Non-standard'	Chrome Full support 13	Edge Full support 12	Firefox No support 15 — 61	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 16	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android No support No	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`name`	Chrome Full support 13	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.6	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 16	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 8	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`type`	Chrome Full support 13	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.6	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 16	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android No support No	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
`webkitRelativePath`	Chrome Full support 13 Prefixed' Full support 13 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Edge Full support 13	Firefox Full support 49	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari Full support 11.1	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support 18 Prefixed' Full support 18 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Firefox Android Full support 49	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 11.3	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 Prefixed' Full support 1.0 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.': Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.': Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.