Styling an input type=“file” button

Question

How do you style an input type=\"file\" button?

Answer 1

Here is a solution which doesn't really style the <input type="file" /> element but instead uses a <input type="file" /> element on top of other elements (which can be styled). The <input type="file" /> element is not really visible hence, the overall illusion is of a nicely styled file upload control.

I came across this problem recently and despite the plethora of answers on Stack Overflow, none really seemed to fit the bill. In the end, I ended up customizing this so as to have a simple and an elegant solution.

I have also tested this on Firefox, IE (11, 10 & 9), Chrome and Opera, iPad and a few android devices.

Here's the JSFiddle link -> http://jsfiddle.net/umhva747/

$('input[type=file]').change(function(e) {
    $in = $(this);
    $in.next().html($in.val());
    
});

$('.uploadButton').click(function() {
    var fileName = $("#fileUpload").val();
    if (fileName) {
        alert(fileName + " can be uploaded.");
    }
    else {
        alert("Please select a file to upload");
    }
});

body {
    background-color:Black;
}

div.upload {
    background-color:#fff;
    border: 1px solid #ffffd;
    border-radius:5px;
    display:inline-block;
    height: 30px;
    padding:3px 40px 3px 3px;
    position:relative;
    width: auto;
}

div.upload:hover {
    opacity:0.95;
}

div.upload input[type="file"] {
    display: input-block;
    width: 100%;
    height: 30px;
    opacity: 0;
    cursor:pointer;
    position:absolute;
    left:0;
}
.uploadButton {
    background-color: #425F9C;
    border: none;
    border-radius: 3px;
    color: #FFF;
    cursor:pointer;
    display: inline-block;
    height: 30px;
    margin-right:15px;
    width: auto;
    padding:0 20px;
    box-sizing: content-box;
}

.fileName {
    font-family: Arial;
    font-size:14px;
}

.upload + .uploadButton {
    height:38px;
}

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.9.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<form action="" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
    <div class="upload">
        <input type="button" class="uploadButton" value="Browse" />
        <input type="file" name="upload" accept="image/*" id="fileUpload" />
        <span class="fileName">Select file..</span>
    </div>
    <input type="button" class="uploadButton" value="Upload File" />
</form>

Hope this helps!!!

Answer 2

The best way I have found is having an input type: file then setting it to display: none. Give it an id. Create a button or any other element you want to open the file input.

Then add an event listener on it (button) which when clicked simulates a click on the original file input. Like clicking a button named hello but it opens a file window.

Example code

//i am using semantic ui

<button class="ui circular icon button purple send-button" id="send-btn">
      <i class="paper plane icon"></i>
    </button>
  <input type="file" id="file" class="input-file" />

javascript

var attachButton=document.querySelector('.attach-button');
    attachButton.addEventListener('click', e=>{
        $('#file').trigger("click")
    })

Answer 3

ONLY CSS

Use this very simple and EASY

.choose::-webkit-file-upload-button {
  color: white;
  display: inline-block;
  background: #1CB6E0;
  border: none;
  padding: 7px 15px;
  font-weight: 700;
  border-radius: 3px;
  white-space: nowrap;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-size: 10pt;
}

<label>Attach your screenshort</label>
<input type="file" multiple class="choose">

Answer 4

<input type="file" name="media" style="display-none" onchange="document.media.submit()">

I would normally use simple javascript to customize the file input tag.A hidden input field,on click of button,javascript call the hidden field,simple solution with out any css or bunch of jquery.

<button id="file" onclick="$('#file').click()">Upload File</button>

Answer 5

Here is a solution, that also shows the chosen file name: http://jsfiddle.net/raft9pg0/1/

HTML:

<label for="file-upload" class="custom-file-upload">Chose file</label>
<input id="file-upload" type="file"/>
File: <span id="file-upload-value">-</span>

JS:

$(function() {
    $("input:file[id=file-upload]").change(function() {
        $("#file-upload-value").html( $(this).val() );
    });
});

CSS:

input[type="file"] {
    display: none;
}

.custom-file-upload {
      background: #ffffd;
      border: 1px solid #aaa;
      border-top: 1px solid #ccc;
      border-left: 1px solid #ccc;
      -moz-border-radius: 3px;
      -webkit-border-radius: 3px;
      border-radius: 3px;
      color: #444;
      display: inline-block;
      font-size: 11px;
      font-weight: bold;
      text-decoration: none;
      text-shadow: 0 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, .75);
      cursor: pointer;
      margin-bottom: 20px;
      line-height: normal;
      padding: 8px 10px; }

Answer 6

Simply simulate a click on the <input> by using the trigger() function when clicking on a styled <div>. I created my own button out of a <div> and then triggered a click on the input when clicking my <div>. This allows you to create your button however you want because it's a <div> and simulates a click on your file <input>. Then use display: none on your <input>.

// div styled as my load file button
<div id="simClick">Load from backup</div>

<input type="file" id="readFile" />

// Click function for input
$("#readFile").click(function() {
    readFile();
});

// Simulate click on the input when clicking div
$("#simClick").click(function() {
    $("#readFile").trigger("click");
});