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Discover how to solve the issue of uploading large base64 strings to a Node.js server by chunking. Learn practical tips and improvements in this detailed guide.
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How to Upload Large Files in Node.js: Chunking Base64 Strings

When it comes to uploading files through web applications, you may encounter limitations that can hinder your progress. In this guide, we will explore a common issue faced while uploading large files to a PostgreSQL database using a Node.js server, along with practical solutions.

Understanding the Problem

In a typical use case, you might want to upload files from the frontend (using Vue.js in this case) to a backend service. File uploads can become problematic when the size of the data being uploaded exceeds the allowed limit, leading to errors and failed requests. Specifically, this post addresses a scenario where base64-encoded file uploads fail when the encoded string exceeds a certain length—specifically, 16KB in this example.

The Initial Approach

The initial strategy involved converting files into a base64 string and then sending the string as part of a URL in a POST request. But here's where the problems begin:

URL Length Limit: When the size of the base64 encoded data exceeds 16KB, you may encounter issues due to URL length restrictions in HTTP requests. Browsers often impose these limits, which can result in fetch errors.

Misuse of HTTP Methods: The original code attempted to utilize POST requests improperly by encoding the file data within the URL, defeating the purpose of using the POST method. POST requests are intended for body data, not URL parameters.

Proposed Solution: Chunking Base64 Strings

To tackle these challenges, the recommended approach is to break down the large base64 string into smaller manageable chunks before uploading. Here’s how you can implement this:

1. Modify the Fetch Request

Instead of passing the base64 string in the URL, we can send it as part of the request body. Here’s how to adjust your button click event:

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

2. Update Node.js Server Configuration

Modify your Node.js server to handle the file upload without expecting parameters in the URL. Use middleware to parse FormData:

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

3. Consider Storage Alternatives

While the above implementation solves the immediate problem, consider the following best practice: Don’t use PostgreSQL to store large blobs. Instead, consider using services like Amazon S3, which are optimized for file storage. You can then store a reference to the file instead of the file itself in your database.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, you can effectively handle large file uploads in your Node.js applications. Remember to ensure that you’re using the appropriate HTTP methods for your needs and to separate your data from your URLs. This not only improves stability but also enhances the performance of your applications.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need further assistance!