react-dropzone vs react-dnd vs react-file-drop vs react-dropzone-component
React Drag and Drop Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-dropzonereact-dndreact-file-dropreact-dropzone-componentSimilar Packages:
What's React Drag and Drop Libraries?

These libraries provide various functionalities for implementing drag-and-drop features in React applications. They cater to different use cases, from simple file uploads to complex drag-and-drop interfaces, allowing developers to enhance user experience through intuitive interactions. Each library has its unique approach and features, making them suitable for different scenarios in web development.

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react-dropzone4,216,80810,758567 kB642 months agoMIT
react-dnd2,312,12121,353231 kB463-MIT
react-file-drop32,61017620.8 kB3-MIT
react-dropzone-component20,3211,001-977 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-dropzone vs react-dnd vs react-file-drop vs react-dropzone-component

Customization

  • react-dropzone:

    react-dropzone provides basic customization options such as styling and event handling, but it is primarily focused on file uploads. It allows for some degree of customization in terms of appearance and behavior, but not as extensively as react-dnd.

  • react-dnd:

    react-dnd offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to define their own drag-and-drop behaviors, customize drag previews, and manage complex interactions between draggable items. This flexibility makes it suitable for applications with intricate drag-and-drop requirements.

  • react-file-drop:

    react-file-drop is designed for simplicity and ease of use, offering minimal customization options. It focuses on providing a straightforward drag-and-drop experience without the need for extensive configuration.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    react-dropzone-component simplifies customization with a more user-friendly API, enabling developers to easily adjust styles and behaviors while still offering a good level of flexibility for file upload scenarios.

Use Case

  • react-dropzone:

    react-dropzone is best suited for applications that need a simple file upload interface, such as image galleries or document upload forms. It provides a user-friendly way to drag files into a designated area for upload.

  • react-dnd:

    react-dnd is ideal for complex applications requiring advanced drag-and-drop features, such as interactive dashboards, sortable lists, or games. Its capabilities allow for handling multiple draggable items and defining custom drop targets.

  • react-file-drop:

    react-file-drop is designed for applications that require basic file drop functionality, making it suitable for simple upload scenarios where users can drag files directly into the interface.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    react-dropzone-component is perfect for projects needing a quick and easy file upload solution with drag-and-drop support, such as blog post editors or user profile picture uploads.

Learning Curve

  • react-dropzone:

    react-dropzone is relatively easy to learn, making it accessible for developers who need a straightforward file upload solution. Its API is simple and well-documented, allowing for quick implementation.

  • react-dnd:

    react-dnd has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features and flexibility. Developers may need to invest time in understanding its concepts and API to fully utilize its capabilities for complex interactions.

  • react-file-drop:

    react-file-drop is very easy to use, with a minimalistic API that allows developers to implement drag-and-drop functionality with little effort, making it ideal for beginners.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    react-dropzone-component is also easy to learn, especially for those familiar with react-dropzone. It offers a more intuitive API, making it suitable for developers looking for a quick setup.

Performance

  • react-dropzone:

    react-dropzone performs well for file uploads, handling multiple files efficiently. However, performance may vary based on the number of files and their sizes during upload.

  • react-dnd:

    react-dnd is optimized for performance in complex scenarios, ensuring smooth interactions even with multiple draggable items. It uses a virtual DOM approach to minimize re-renders and enhance responsiveness during drag-and-drop operations.

  • react-file-drop:

    react-file-drop is lightweight and performs well for basic file drop functionality, ensuring quick and responsive interactions without significant overhead.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    react-dropzone-component maintains good performance for file uploads, similar to react-dropzone, but may introduce slight overhead due to additional abstraction.

Community and Support

  • react-dropzone:

    react-dropzone boasts a large user base and active community support, with plenty of resources available for troubleshooting and implementation guidance.

  • react-dnd:

    react-dnd has a strong community and extensive documentation, making it easier for developers to find support and resources. Its popularity in the React ecosystem ensures ongoing maintenance and updates.

  • react-file-drop:

    react-file-drop has a limited community presence, but it is straightforward enough that developers can easily find solutions to common issues.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    react-dropzone-component has a smaller community compared to react-dropzone, but it is still well-supported with documentation and examples to assist developers.

How to Choose: react-dropzone vs react-dnd vs react-file-drop vs react-dropzone-component
  • react-dropzone:

    Select react-dropzone for straightforward file upload functionality with drag-and-drop support. It is best suited for applications that need a simple and effective way to handle file uploads without extensive customization.

  • react-dnd:

    Choose react-dnd if you need a highly customizable drag-and-drop solution that allows for complex interactions and nesting of draggable items. It is ideal for applications requiring advanced drag-and-drop functionality, such as Kanban boards or sortable lists.

  • react-file-drop:

    Use react-file-drop for a lightweight and easy-to-use solution specifically focused on file dropping. It is perfect for applications that prioritize simplicity and require basic drag-and-drop file upload capabilities.

  • react-dropzone-component:

    Opt for react-dropzone-component if you prefer a higher-level abstraction over react-dropzone, providing a more straightforward API and built-in styling options. This is a good choice for projects that require quick implementation of file uploads with minimal configuration.

README for react-dropzone

react-dropzone logo

react-dropzone

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Simple React hook to create a HTML5-compliant drag'n'drop zone for files.

Documentation and examples at https://react-dropzone.js.org. Source code at https://github.com/react-dropzone/react-dropzone/.

Installation

Install it from npm and include it in your React build process (using Webpack, Browserify, etc).

npm install --save react-dropzone

or:

yarn add react-dropzone

Usage

You can either use the hook:

import React, {useCallback} from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function MyDropzone() {
  const onDrop = useCallback(acceptedFiles => {
    // Do something with the files
  }, [])
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps, isDragActive} = useDropzone({onDrop})

  return (
    <div {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      {
        isDragActive ?
          <p>Drop the files here ...</p> :
          <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
      }
    </div>
  )
}

Or the wrapper component for the hook:

import React from 'react'
import Dropzone from 'react-dropzone'

<Dropzone onDrop={acceptedFiles => console.log(acceptedFiles)}>
  {({getRootProps, getInputProps}) => (
    <section>
      <div {...getRootProps()}>
        <input {...getInputProps()} />
        <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
      </div>
    </section>
  )}
</Dropzone>

If you want to access file contents you have to use the FileReader API:

import React, {useCallback} from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function MyDropzone() {
  const onDrop = useCallback((acceptedFiles) => {
    acceptedFiles.forEach((file) => {
      const reader = new FileReader()

      reader.onabort = () => console.log('file reading was aborted')
      reader.onerror = () => console.log('file reading has failed')
      reader.onload = () => {
      // Do whatever you want with the file contents
        const binaryStr = reader.result
        console.log(binaryStr)
      }
      reader.readAsArrayBuffer(file)
    })
    
  }, [])
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps} = useDropzone({onDrop})

  return (
    <div {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
    </div>
  )
}

Dropzone Props Getters

The dropzone property getters are just two functions that return objects with properties which you need to use to create the drag 'n' drop zone. The root properties can be applied to whatever element you want, whereas the input properties must be applied to an <input>:

import React from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function MyDropzone() {
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps} = useDropzone()

  return (
    <div {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
    </div>
  )
}

Note that whatever other props you want to add to the element where the props from getRootProps() are set, you should always pass them through that function rather than applying them on the element itself. This is in order to avoid your props being overridden (or overriding the props returned by getRootProps()):

<div
  {...getRootProps({
    onClick: event => console.log(event),
    role: 'button',
    'aria-label': 'drag and drop area',
    ...
  })}
/>

In the example above, the provided {onClick} handler will be invoked before the internal one, therefore, internal callbacks can be prevented by simply using stopPropagation. See Events for more examples.

Important: if you omit rendering an <input> and/or binding the props from getInputProps(), opening a file dialog will not be possible.

Refs

Both getRootProps and getInputProps accept a custom refKey (defaults to ref) as one of the attributes passed down in the parameter.

This can be useful when the element you're trying to apply the props from either one of those fns does not expose a reference to the element, e.g:

import React from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'
// NOTE: After v4.0.0, styled components exposes a ref using forwardRef,
// therefore, no need for using innerRef as refKey
import styled from 'styled-components'

const StyledDiv = styled.div`
  // Some styling here
`
function Example() {
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps} = useDropzone()
  <StyledDiv {...getRootProps({ refKey: 'innerRef' })}>
    <input {...getInputProps()} />
    <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
  </StyledDiv>
}

If you're working with Material UI v4 and would like to apply the root props on some component that does not expose a ref, use RootRef:

import React from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'
import RootRef from '@material-ui/core/RootRef'

function PaperDropzone() {
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps} = useDropzone()
  const {ref, ...rootProps} = getRootProps()

  <RootRef rootRef={ref}>
    <Paper {...rootProps}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
    </Paper>
  </RootRef>
}

IMPORTANT: do not set the ref prop on the elements where getRootProps()/getInputProps() props are set, instead, get the refs from the hook itself:

import React from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function Refs() {
  const {
    getRootProps,
    getInputProps,
    rootRef, // Ref to the `<div>`
    inputRef // Ref to the `<input>`
  } = useDropzone()
  <div {...getRootProps()}>
    <input {...getInputProps()} />
    <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
  </div>
}

If you're using the <Dropzone> component, though, you can set the ref prop on the component itself which will expose the {open} prop that can be used to open the file dialog programmatically:

import React, {createRef} from 'react'
import Dropzone from 'react-dropzone'

const dropzoneRef = createRef()

<Dropzone ref={dropzoneRef}>
  {({getRootProps, getInputProps}) => (
    <div {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      <p>Drag 'n' drop some files here, or click to select files</p>
    </div>
  )}
</Dropzone>

dropzoneRef.open()

Testing

react-dropzone makes some of its drag 'n' drop callbacks asynchronous to enable promise based getFilesFromEvent() functions. In order to test components that use this library, you need to use the react-testing-library:

import React from 'react'
import Dropzone from 'react-dropzone'
import {act, fireEvent, render} from '@testing-library/react'

test('invoke onDragEnter when dragenter event occurs', async () => {
  const file = new File([
    JSON.stringify({ping: true})
  ], 'ping.json', { type: 'application/json' })
  const data = mockData([file])
  const onDragEnter = jest.fn()

  const ui = (
    <Dropzone onDragEnter={onDragEnter}>
      {({ getRootProps, getInputProps }) => (
        <div {...getRootProps()}>
          <input {...getInputProps()} />
        </div>
      )}
    </Dropzone>
  )
  const { container } = render(ui)

  await act(
    () => fireEvent.dragEnter(
      container.querySelector('div'),
      data,
    )
  );
  expect(onDragEnter).toHaveBeenCalled()
})

function mockData(files) {
  return {
    dataTransfer: {
      files,
      items: files.map(file => ({
        kind: 'file',
        type: file.type,
        getAsFile: () => file
      })),
      types: ['Files']
    }
  }
}

NOTE: using Enzyme for testing is not supported at the moment, see #2011.

More examples for this can be found in react-dropzone's own test suites.

Caveats

Required React Version

React 16.8 or above is required because we use hooks (the lib itself is a hook).

File Paths

Files returned by the hook or passed as arg to the onDrop cb won't have the properties path or fullPath. For more inf check this SO question and this issue.

Not a File Uploader

This lib is not a file uploader; as such, it does not process files or provide any way to make HTTP requests to some server; if you're looking for that, checkout filepond or uppy.io.

Using <label> as Root

If you use <label> as the root element, the file dialog will be opened twice; see #1107 why. To avoid this, use noClick:

import React, {useCallback} from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function MyDropzone() {
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps} = useDropzone({noClick: true})

  return (
    <label {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
    </label>
  )
}

Using open() on Click

If you bind a click event on an inner element and use open(), it will trigger a click on the root element too, resulting in the file dialog opening twice. To prevent this, use the noClick on the root:

import React, {useCallback} from 'react'
import {useDropzone} from 'react-dropzone'

function MyDropzone() {
  const {getRootProps, getInputProps, open} = useDropzone({noClick: true})

  return (
    <div {...getRootProps()}>
      <input {...getInputProps()} />
      <button type="button" onClick={open}>
        Open
      </button>
    </div>
  )
}

File Dialog Cancel Callback

The onFileDialogCancel() cb is unstable in most browsers, meaning, there's a good chance of it being triggered even though you have selected files.

We rely on using a timeout of 300ms after the window is focused (the window onfocus event is triggered when the file select dialog is closed) to check if any files were selected and trigger onFileDialogCancel if none were selected.

As one can imagine, this doesn't really work if there's a lot of files or large files as by the time we trigger the check, the browser is still processing the files and no onchange events are triggered yet on the input. Check #1031 for more info.

Fortunately, there's the File System Access API, which is currently a working draft and some browsers support it (see browser compatibility), that provides a reliable way to prompt the user for file selection and capture cancellation.

Also keep in mind that the FS access API can only be used in secure contexts.

NOTE You can enable using the FS access API with the useFsAccessApi property: useDropzone({useFsAccessApi: true}).

File System Access API

When setting useFsAccessApi to true, you're switching to the File System API (see the file system access RFC).

What this essentially does is that it will use the showOpenFilePicker method to open the file picker window so that the user can select files.

In contrast, the traditional way (when the useFsAccessApi is not set to true or not specified) uses an <input type="file"> (see docs) on which a click event is triggered.

With the use of the file system access API enabled, there's a couple of caveats to keep in mind:

  1. The users will not be able to select directories
  2. It requires the app to run in a secure context
  3. In Electron, the path may not be set (see #1249)

Supported Browsers

We use browserslist config to state the browser support for this lib, so check it out on browserslist.dev.

Need image editing?

React Dropzone integrates perfectly with Pintura Image Editor, creating a modern image editing experience. Pintura supports crop aspect ratios, resizing, rotating, cropping, annotating, filtering, and much more.

Checkout the Pintura integration example.

Support

Backers

Support us with a monthly donation and help us continue our activities. [Become a backer]

Sponsors

Become a sponsor and get your logo on our README on Github with a link to your site. [Become a sponsor]

Hosting

react-dropzone.js.org hosting provided by netlify.

Contribute

Checkout the organization CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

MIT