Resolving req.files Being Null in Axios Requests: A Guide for React and Node.js Developers

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The Problem

Scenario Breakdown

Client Side: You want to send an image file and additional user data.

Attempts to include both the image and user data without properly structuring the request lead to one or the other being unavailable in the backend.

The Solution: Using FormData

The solution to this illusion is simple yet crucial: you need to append the user data into the same FormData instance used for the file upload.

Step-by-Step Solution

Create a FormData Object: Instead of sending the data as JSON, we will combine everything in a single FormData object.

Append Additional Data: Add any other necessary fields (e.g., userid, username) to the same FormData instance.

Here’s how you can modify your original code to implement this solution.

Updated Code Example

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Points to Remember

Single FormData Instance: All data, both files and non-file values, must be sent as part of the same FormData instance.

Correct Content-Type Header: Setting the Content-Type header as multipart/form-data is crucial to ensure the server correctly processes the request.

Error Handling: Always include error handling to manage any issues that may arise during the upload process.

Conclusion