How to convert file to base64 in JavaScript?

Question

UPD TypeScript version is also available in answers

Now I'm getting File object by this line:

file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0]

I need to send this file via json in base 64. What should I do to convert it to base64 string?

Answer 1

Try the solution using the FileReader class:

function getBase64(file) {
   var reader = new FileReader();
   reader.readAsDataURL(file);
   reader.onload = function () {
     console.log(reader.result);
   };
   reader.onerror = function (error) {
     console.log('Error: ', error);
   };
}

var file = document.querySelector('#files > input[type="file"]').files[0];
getBase64(file); // prints the base64 string

Notice that .files[0] is a File type, which is a sublcass of Blob. Thus it can be used with FileReader.
See the complete working example.

Answer 2

Modern ES6 way (async/await)

const toBase64 = file => new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    const reader = new FileReader();
    reader.readAsDataURL(file);
    reader.onload = () => resolve(reader.result);
    reader.onerror = error => reject(error);
});

async function Main() {
   const file = document.querySelector('#myfile').files[0];
   console.log(await toBase64(file));
}

Main();

UPD:

If you want to catch errors

async function Main() {
   const file = document.querySelector('#myfile').files[0];
   try {
      const result = await toBase64(file);
      return result
   } catch(error) {
      console.error(error);
      return;
   }
   //...
}