Overview
File Picker is a Flutter package that enables users to select files using the native file explorer on multiple platforms. It supports picking single or multiple files with optional extension filtering, returning absolute file paths. The package integrates seamlessly with Android, iOS, Web, macOS, Windows, and Linux, offering a consistent experience across devices. It simplifies file selection in apps requiring document uploads, media handling, or data import/export.
Use cases
- Uploading documents in forms
- Selecting images or videos for upload
- Importing configuration or data files
- Handling user-generated content
- Batch file selection for processing
- Cross-platform file input
Key features
- Native file picker integration
- Support for multiple file selection
- Extension-based file filtering
- Returns absolute file paths
- Works across all major platforms
- Simple API for basic use cases
Suitable for
- Apps needing file uploads
- Document management tools
- Media-rich applications
- Data import/export features
- Cross-platform file selection
Considerations
- Requires platform-specific permissions
- May need additional handling for web file access
- Limited customization of native UI
- File path access depends on platform security model
- Not suitable for large file streaming without buffering