How Can I Retrieve the Full File Path Using JavaScript and jQuery?

Retrieving the Full Path of Selected Files using JavaScript and jQuery

In web development, it's often necessary to handle file selection using the HTML <input type="file"> element. While browsers like Firefox and Chrome provide access to the file's name, they restrict access to the full path for security reasons.

Failed Approach Using Value Attribute

One common misconception is that the value attribute of the <input type="file"> contains the full path. However, this approach only returns the file's name, not the full path.

<input type="file">

Browser Security Restrictions

Browsers have intentionally disabled access to the full path via JavaScript to prevent malicious attacks and protect user privacy. Essentially, JavaScript has no access to the file system.

Alternative for Firefox

While other browsers don't provide access to the full path, Firefox has a unique property called mozFullPath. However, attempting to access this property returns an empty string.

$('input[type=file]').change(function () {
  console.log(this.files[0].mozFullPath);
});
https://jsfiddle.net/SCK5A/

Alternative Approach for File Reading

Instead of relying on the full path, consider using the File Reader API, which allows you to read the file's contents without access to its location on the system. This approach is commonly used for previewing images before uploading, as described in the following Stack Overflow question:

Preview an image before it is uploaded.

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