Convex File Storage

Convex File Storage

Handle file uploads, storage, serving, and management in Convex applications with proper patterns for images, documents, and generated files.

Documentation Sources

Before implementing, do not assume; fetch the latest documentation:

• Primary: https://docs.convex.dev/file-storage
• Upload Files: https://docs.convex.dev/file-storage/upload-files
• Serve Files: https://docs.convex.dev/file-storage/serve-files
• For broader context: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt

Instructions

File Storage Overview

Convex provides built-in file storage with:

• Automatic URL generation for serving files
• Support for any file type (images, PDFs, videos, etc.)
• File metadata via the _storage system table
• Integration with mutations and actions

Generating Upload URLs

// convex/files.ts
import { mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const generateUploadUrl = mutation({
  args: {},
  returns: v.string(),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    return await ctx.storage.generateUploadUrl();
  },
});

Client-Side Upload

// React component
import { useMutation } from "convex/react";
import { api } from "../convex/_generated/api";
import { useState } from "react";

function FileUploader() {
  const generateUploadUrl = useMutation(api.files.generateUploadUrl);
  const saveFile = useMutation(api.files.saveFile);
  const [uploading, setUploading] = useState(false);

  const handleUpload = async (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = e.target.files?.[0];
    if (!file) return;

    setUploading(true);
    try {
      // Step 1: Get upload URL
      const uploadUrl = await generateUploadUrl();

      // Step 2: Upload file to storage
      const result = await fetch(uploadUrl, {
        method: "POST",
        headers: { "Content-Type": file.type },
        body: file,
      });

      const { storageId } = await result.json();

      // Step 3: Save file reference to database
      await saveFile({
        storageId,
        fileName: file.name,
        fileType: file.type,
        fileSize: file.size,
      });
    } finally {
      setUploading(false);
    }
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input
        type="file"
        onChange={handleUpload}
        disabled={uploading}
      />
      {uploading && <p>Uploading...</p>}
    </div>
  );
}

Saving File References

// convex/files.ts
import { mutation, query } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const saveFile = mutation({
  args: {
    storageId: v.id("_storage"),
    fileName: v.string(),
    fileType: v.string(),
    fileSize: v.number(),
  },
  returns: v.id("files"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.db.insert("files", {
      storageId: args.storageId,
      fileName: args.fileName,
      fileType: args.fileType,
      fileSize: args.fileSize,
      uploadedAt: Date.now(),
    });
  },
});

Serving Files via URL

// convex/files.ts
export const getFileUrl = query({
  args: { storageId: v.id("_storage") },
  returns: v.union(v.string(), v.null()),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.storage.getUrl(args.storageId);
  },
});

// Get file with URL
export const getFile = query({
  args: { fileId: v.id("files") },
  returns: v.union(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id("files"),
      fileName: v.string(),
      fileType: v.string(),
      fileSize: v.number(),
      url: v.union(v.string(), v.null()),
    }),
    v.null()
  ),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const file = await ctx.db.get(args.fileId);
    if (!file) return null;

    const url = await ctx.storage.getUrl(file.storageId);
    
    return {
      _id: file._id,
      fileName: file.fileName,
      fileType: file.fileType,
      fileSize: file.fileSize,
      url,
    };
  },
});

Displaying Files in React

import { useQuery } from "convex/react";
import { api } from "../convex/_generated/api";

function FileDisplay({ fileId }: { fileId: Id<"files"> }) {
  const file = useQuery(api.files.getFile, { fileId });

  if (!file) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  if (!file.url) return <div>File not found</div>;

  // Handle different file types
  if (file.fileType.startsWith("image/")) {
    return <img src={file.url} alt={file.fileName} />;
  }

  if (file.fileType === "application/pdf") {
    return (
      <iframe
        src={file.url}
        title={file.fileName}
        width="100%"
        height="600px"
      />
    );
  }

  return (
    <a href={file.url} download={file.fileName}>
      Download {file.fileName}
    </a>
  );
}

Storing Generated Files from Actions

// convex/generate.ts
"use node";

import { action } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { api } from "./_generated/api";

export const generatePDF = action({
  args: { content: v.string() },
  returns: v.id("_storage"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Generate PDF (example using a library)
    const pdfBuffer = await generatePDFFromContent(args.content);

    // Convert to Blob
    const blob = new Blob([pdfBuffer], { type: "application/pdf" });

    // Store in Convex
    const storageId = await ctx.storage.store(blob);

    return storageId;
  },
});

// Generate and save image
export const generateImage = action({
  args: { prompt: v.string() },
  returns: v.id("_storage"),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Call external API to generate image
    const response = await fetch("https://api.example.com/generate", {
      method: "POST",
      body: JSON.stringify({ prompt: args.prompt }),
    });

    const imageBuffer = await response.arrayBuffer();
    const blob = new Blob([imageBuffer], { type: "image/png" });

    return await ctx.storage.store(blob);
  },
});

Accessing File Metadata

// convex/files.ts
import { query } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";
import { Id } from "./_generated/dataModel";

type FileMetadata = {
  _id: Id<"_storage">;
  _creationTime: number;
  contentType?: string;
  sha256: string;
  size: number;
};

export const getFileMetadata = query({
  args: { storageId: v.id("_storage") },
  returns: v.union(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id("_storage"),
      _creationTime: v.number(),
      contentType: v.optional(v.string()),
      sha256: v.string(),
      size: v.number(),
    }),
    v.null()
  ),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const metadata = await ctx.db.system.get(args.storageId);
    return metadata as FileMetadata | null;
  },
});

Deleting Files

// convex/files.ts
import { mutation } from "./_generated/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export const deleteFile = mutation({
  args: { fileId: v.id("files") },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const file = await ctx.db.get(args.fileId);
    if (!file) return null;

    // Delete from storage
    await ctx.storage.delete(file.storageId);

    // Delete database record
    await ctx.db.delete(args.fileId);

    return null;
  },
});

Image Upload with Preview

import { useMutation } from "convex/react";
import { api } from "../convex/_generated/api";
import { useState, useRef } from "react";

function ImageUploader({ onUpload }: { onUpload: (id: Id<"files">) => void }) {
  const generateUploadUrl = useMutation(api.files.generateUploadUrl);
  const saveFile = useMutation(api.files.saveFile);
  const [preview, setPreview] = useState<string | null>(null);
  const [uploading, setUploading] = useState(false);
  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);

  const handleFileSelect = async (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = e.target.files?.[0];
    if (!file) return;

    // Validate file type
    if (!file.type.startsWith("image/")) {
      alert("Please select an image file");
      return;
    }