---
title: Files
slug: docs/flutter/parse-sdk/flutter-save-file
description: In this guide you'll learn save and read files in Back4App on your Flutter App
image: https://www.back4app.com/images/logo-social.png
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-03-18T15:10:02.884Z
---
# Save Files from a Flutter App
## Introduction
Sometimes applications need to store data that is often too large to be stored inside a ParseObject. The most common use case is storing images, but you can also use it for documents, videos, music, and other binary data.
To store a file on Parse, you should always associate the file with another data object so you can retrieve this file path when querying the object. If you do not associate, the file will be stored, but you will not find them on the Cloud.
Another important tip is to give a name to the file that has a file extension. This extension lets Parse figure out the file type and handle it accordingly. We should also mention that each upload gets a unique identifier, so there’s no problem uploading multiple files using the same name.
In Flutter, ParseFile and ParseWebFile let you store and retrieve application files in the Cloud that would. This guide explains how to store and retrieve files in your Flutter App to manage Back4app cloud storage.
:::hint{type="danger"}
- If you do not associate your file to a data object the file will become an orphan file and you wont be able to find it on Back4App Cloud.
:::
::embed[]{url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2XQGks2ivA"}
## Prerequisites
:::hint{type="info"}
- An app [created](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app) on Back4App:
- **Note: **Follow the [New Parse App Tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app) to learn how to create a Parse App on Back4App.
- An Flutter app connected to Back4app.
- **Note: **Follow the [Install Parse SDK on Flutter project](https://www.back4app.com/docs/flutter/parse-sdk/parse-flutter-sdk) to create an Flutter Project connected to Back4App.
- A device (or virtual device) running Android or iOS.
- In order to run this guide example you should set up the plugin [image\_picker](https://pub.dev/packages/image_picker) properly. Do not forget to add permissions for iOS in order to access images stored in device. \{: .btn target=”\_blank” rel=”nofollow”}. Carefully read the instructions for setting up the Android and iOS project.
:::
## Goal
Create an Flutter Gallery App that uploads and displays images from Back4app.
## 1 - Understanding ParseFile and ParseWebFile class
There are three different file classes in this Parse SDK for Flutter
- `ParseFileBase`is an abstract class, the foundation of every file class that this SDK can handle.
- `ParseFile`extends `ParseFileBase` and is by default used as the file class on every platform (not valid for web). This class uses a `File` from `dart:io` for storing the raw file.
- `ParseWebFile`is the equivalent to `ParseFile` used at Flutter Web. This class uses an `Uint8List` for storing the raw file.
The methods available on `ParseFileBase` to manipulate files:
- `save()`or `upload()` for save file on Cloud
- `download()`for retrive file and store in local storage
There are properties to get information from the saved file:
- `url`: Gets the file url. It is only available after you save the file or after you get the file from a Parse.Object.
- `name`: Gets the file name. This is the filename given by the user before calling the `save()` method. After callint the method, the property receives a unique identifier.
## 2 - Uploading an Image
To upload an image, you will only need to create a `ParseFileBase` instance and then call the `save` method.
Let’s do that in our `upload` function:
```javascript
1 ParseFileBase? parseFile;
2
3 if (kIsWeb) {
4 //Flutter Web
5 parseFile = ParseWebFile(
6 await pickedFile!.readAsBytes(),
7 name: 'image.jpg'); //Name for file is required
8 } else {
9 //Flutter Mobile/Desktop
10 parseFile = ParseFile(File(pickedFile!.path));
11 }
12 await parseFile.save();
```
The above snippet creates and saves the image, and after the save completes, we associate it with a `ParseObject` called `Gallery`.
```javascript
1 final gallery = ParseObject('Gallery')
2 ..set('file', parseFile);
3 await gallery.save();
```
## 3 - Displaying Images
To display images, you need to get the image’s URL.
To upload an image, you will only need to create a `ParseFileBase` instance and then call the `save` method.
```javascript
1 ParseFileBase? varFile = parseObject.get('file');
2
3 return Image.network(
4 varFile!.url!,
5 width: 200,
6 height: 200,
7 fit: BoxFit.fitHeight,
8 );
```
## 4 - Upload and Retrieve from Flutter App
Let’s now use our example for uploading and displaying images in Flutter App, with a simple interface.
Open your Flutter project, go to the `main.dart` file, clean up all the code, and replace it with:
```dart
1 import 'dart:io';
2
3 import 'package:flutter/cupertino.dart';
4 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
5 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
6 import 'package:image_picker/image_picker.dart';
7 import 'package:parse_server_sdk_flutter/parse_server_sdk.dart';
8
9 void main() async {
10 WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
11
12 final keyApplicationId = 'YOUR_APP_ID_HERE';
13 final keyClientKey = 'YOUR_CLIENT_KEY_HERE';
14
15 final keyParseServerUrl = 'https://parseapi.back4app.com';
16
17 await Parse().initialize(keyApplicationId, keyParseServerUrl,
18 clientKey: keyClientKey, debug: true);
19
20 runApp(MaterialApp(
21 title: 'Flutter - Storage File',
22 debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
23 home: HomePage(),
24 ));
25 }
26
27 class HomePage extends StatefulWidget {
28 @override
29 _HomePageState createState() => _HomePageState();
30 }
31
32 class _HomePageState extends State {
33 PickedFile? pickedFile;
34
35 List results = [];
36 double selectedDistance = 3000;
37
38 @override
39 Widget build(BuildContext context) {
40 return Scaffold(
41 body: Padding(
42 padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16.0),
43 child: Column(
44 crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
45 children: [
46 Container(
47 height: 200,
48 child: Image.network(
49 'https://blog.back4app.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/logo-b4a-1-768x175-1.png'),
50 ),
51 SizedBox(
52 height: 16,
53 ),
54 Center(
55 child: const Text('Flutter on Back4app - Save File',
56 style: TextStyle(fontSize: 18, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold)),
57 ),
58 SizedBox(
59 height: 16,
60 ),
61 Container(
62 height: 50,
63 child: ElevatedButton(
64 child: Text('Upload File'),
65 style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(primary: Colors.blue),
66 onPressed: () {
67 Navigator.push(
68 context,
69 MaterialPageRoute(builder: (context) => SavePage()),
70 );
71 },
72 ),
73 ),
74 SizedBox(
75 height: 8,
76 ),
77 Container(
78 height: 50,
79 child: ElevatedButton(
80 child: Text('Display File'),
81 style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(primary: Colors.blue),
82 onPressed: () {
83 Navigator.push(
84 context,
85 MaterialPageRoute(builder: (context) => DisplayPage()),
86 );
87 },
88 ))
89 ],
90 ),
91 ));
92 }
93 }
94
95 class SavePage extends StatefulWidget {
96 @override
97 _SavePageState createState() => _SavePageState();
98 }
99
100 class _SavePageState extends State {
101 PickedFile? pickedFile;
102 bool isLoading = false;
103
104 @override
105 Widget build(BuildContext context) {
106 return Scaffold(
107 appBar: AppBar(
108 title: Text('Upload Fie'),
109 ),
110 body: Padding(
111 padding: const EdgeInsets.all(12.0),
112 child: Column(
113 crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
114 children: [
115 SizedBox(height: 16),
116 GestureDetector(
117 child: pickedFile != null
118 ? Container(
119 width: 250,
120 height: 250,
121 decoration:
122 BoxDecoration(border: Border.all(color: Colors.blue)),
123 child: kIsWeb
124 ? Image.network(pickedFile!.path)
125 : Image.file(File(pickedFile!.path)))
126 : Container(
127 width: 250,
128 height: 250,
129 decoration:
130 BoxDecoration(border: Border.all(color: Colors.blue)),
131 child: Center(
132 child: Text('Click here to pick image from Gallery'),
133 ),
134 ),
135 onTap: () async {
136 PickedFile? image =
137 await ImagePicker().getImage(source: ImageSource.gallery);
138
139 if (image != null) {
140 setState(() {
141 pickedFile = image;
142 });
143 }
144 },
145 ),
146 SizedBox(height: 16),
147 Container(
148 height: 50,
149 child: ElevatedButton(
150 child: Text('Upload file'),
151 style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(primary: Colors.blue),
152 onPressed: isLoading || pickedFile == null
153 ? null
154 : () async {
155 setState(() {
156 isLoading = true;
157 });
158 ParseFileBase? parseFile;
159
160 if (kIsWeb) {
161 //Flutter Web
162 parseFile = ParseWebFile(
163 await pickedFile!.readAsBytes(),
164 name: 'image.jpg'); //Name for file is required
165 } else {
166 //Flutter Mobile/Desktop
167 parseFile = ParseFile(File(pickedFile!.path));
168 }
169 await parseFile.save();
170
171 final gallery = ParseObject('Gallery')
172 ..set('file', parseFile);
173 await gallery.save();
174
175 setState(() {
176 isLoading = false;
177 pickedFile = null;
178 });
179
180 ScaffoldMessenger.of(context)
181 ..removeCurrentSnackBar()
182 ..showSnackBar(SnackBar(
183 content: Text(
184 'Save file with success on Back4app',
185 style: TextStyle(
186 color: Colors.white,
187 ),
188 ),
189 duration: Duration(seconds: 3),
190 backgroundColor: Colors.blue,
191 ));
192 },
193 ))
194 ],
195 ),
196 ),
197 );
198 }
199 }
200
201 class DisplayPage extends StatefulWidget {
202 @override
203 _DisplayPageState createState() => _DisplayPageState();
204 }
205
206 class _DisplayPageState extends State {
207 @override
208 Widget build(BuildContext context) {
209 return Scaffold(
210 appBar: AppBar(
211 title: Text("Display Gallery"),
212 ),
213 body: FutureBuilder>(
214 future: getGalleryList(),
215 builder: (context, snapshot) {
216 switch (snapshot.connectionState) {
217 case ConnectionState.none:
218 case ConnectionState.waiting:
219 return Center(
220 child: Container(
221 width: 100,
222 height: 100,
223 child: CircularProgressIndicator()),
224 );
225 default:
226 if (snapshot.hasError) {
227 return Center(
228 child: Text("Error..."),
229 );
230 } else {
231 return ListView.builder(
232 padding: const EdgeInsets.only(top: 8),
233 itemCount: snapshot.data!.length,
234 itemBuilder: (context, index) {
235 //Web/Mobile/Desktop
236 ParseFileBase? varFile =
237 snapshot.data![index].get('file');
238
239 //Only iOS/Android/Desktop
240 /*
241 ParseFile? varFile =
242 snapshot.data![index].get('file');
243 */
244 return Image.network(
245 varFile!.url!,
246 width: 200,
247 height: 200,
248 fit: BoxFit.fitHeight,
249 );
250 });
251 }
252 }
253 }),
254 );
255 }
256
257 Future> getGalleryList() async {
258 QueryBuilder queryPublisher =
259 QueryBuilder(ParseObject('Gallery'))
260 ..orderByAscending('createdAt');
261 final ParseResponse apiResponse = await queryPublisher.query();
262
263 if (apiResponse.success && apiResponse.results != null) {
264 return apiResponse.results as List;
265 } else {
266 return [];
267 }
268 }
269 }
```
Find your `ApplicationId` and `Client Key` credentials navigating to your app Dashboard->Settings->Security and Keys at [Back4App Website](https://www.back4app.com/).
Update your code in `main.dart` with BOTH values of your project’s `ApplicationId` and `ClientKey` in Back4app.
- keyApplicationId = `AppId`
- keyClientKey = `Client Key`
Run the project, and the app will load as shown in the image.
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/SeiDfLamRqJFys0hfz8xh_image.png" size="50" width="320" height="638" position="center" showCaption="false"}
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/vkn0AimenNqVuC0LWgWVP_image.png" size="50" width="320" height="638" position="center" showCaption="false"}
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/gVi8ZXJg-N0luCP83yayN_image.png" size="50" width="320" height="638" position="center" showCaption="false"}
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/SJhjGyiemfZxKoOMICKBE_image.png" size="50" width="320" height="638" position="center" showCaption="false"}
## Conclusion
At this point, you have uploaded image on Back4App and displayed it in a Flutter application.