What you should know before creating a File Upload Widget
Published: 2020-09-30 08:50:09

No matter how good-looking your site’s design is, it is useless without proper optimization. You should always take user interaction into attention. Hence, it is vital to care about loading speed. Those who run an e-commerce platform or a site that allows users to post announcements know that using an <a rel="dofollow" style="text-decoration:none; color:#292929" href="https://uploadcare.com/products/image-cdn/?utm_expid=.7lu1zy9VS8WIo3RDpDvEBA.0&utm_referrer=/">image CDN</a> is a must. There are also many cases where you may need special software to let people upload their pictures, documents, and other files. But how do you make this widget?
In this article, we are going to reveal all the things you should know about file uploading and offer you some solutions. Let's get started!
Learning the basics
First of all, let's focus on the terms. Just for you to understand all the aspects of working with files, we will describe the most common terms you may notice when browsing the information on this topic: CDN, image CDN, widget. 

Widget
You may know that widget is a term that has multiple meanings. Even in the field of technology, the word "widget" may refer to different objects. However, these objects have something in common – they all are software products. 
When we talk about file uploader, we have web widgets in mind. They are applications that are embedded in the page but work independently. It means that the widgets are used for working with other platforms, usually to add extra features, not provided by the site directly. You have undoubtedly seen dozens of them: from widgets used for advertising to user comments and social media widgets.
The file upload widget is essentially the same. It is created with the help of web technologies (HTML, JavaScript, etc.). 
Some sites allow you to create a personal widget even if you have no experience in programming. It does not mean that you will be able to instantly launch a perfect multifunctional widget, but you will have an opportunity to start from scratch.

CDN
While a widget is rather a well-known term, CDN is something that not many people grasp. The acronym stands for Content Delivery Network.
CDN is a technology of distributed servers and data centers. Its objective is to make sure that users get information from the site quickly and safely. CDNs are very common nowadays. <a rel="dofollow" style="text-decoration:none; color:#292929" href="https://www.invent.org/inductees/daniel-lewin">Developed in the late 1990s</a>, they are used for everything on the internet.
While your site's server is located in one place, CDN nodes are located in numerous locations. This allows your users to load the content faster. A person who is trying to see your content will connect to the closest node, so he or she will get the response from it more quickly than from the main server.

Image CDN
It is a type of CDN that focuses on images. As Content Delivery Network is an umbrella term, there are systems for different content: videos, live streams, documents, software, etc. 
Image CDNs are usual CDNs, but they also have some additional features that optimize the processing of pictures. For example, your users will visit your site from different devices: laptops, tablets, smartphones. Nevertheless, they do not have the same screen resolution and internet connection quality. Image CDN optimizes the pictures for every gadget, providing people with the best user experience, regardless of the image format, compression, dimensions, and other aspects.

Now when we are done with the basics, let's dig deeper.

Where to look for file uploaders
If you use Google search to answer your question, you will get plenty of results. Many platforms allow you to integrate a file upload widget and enjoy the power of image CDNs.
These platforms vary from very basic to advanced ones, with various additional features. Of course, the functions affect the price. Take your time to search for the best option. We will give just some pieces of advice:
Do not pay more for unnecessary features;
Pay attention to security;
Learn as much about the work of the widget as possible.
A lot of platforms offer you a free trial. It might be a good idea to use it first to see whether the widget you have picked suits your needs.

How do I create a private widget?
We understand that some people are not satisfied with any of the options available on the market. Some also may want to try their skills and build something unique. If you are one of these people, we have some ideas for you.
Of course, if you are completely new to programming, it will take some time for you to understand all the aspects. However, there is nothing impossible! You can use the help of the community (such as GitHub) or search for APIs (application programming interface) shared on other file-hosting sites (check Imgur). Creating a personal widget is not a quick solution, but if you are ready for the challenge, then go for it.

Conclusion
File uploaders are initial parts of many sites. They are used for various purposes: to share pictures, attach CVs, store important documents… Nevertheless, there is a technical part of all those user-friendly buttons and animations you see when uploading your file. In the article, we tried to cover the most important points concerning the file upload widgets, how they work, and things that are crucial to know before picking one for your site or developing a personal file upload widget.