# react-native-fetch-blob [![release](https://img.shields.io/github/release/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob.svg?maxAge=86400&style=flat-square)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-native-fetch-blob) [![npm](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/react-native-fetch-blob.svg?style=flat-square)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-native-fetch-blob) ![](https://img.shields.io/badge/PR-Welcome-brightgreen.svg?style=flat-square) [![npm](https://img.shields.io/npm/l/react-native-fetch-blob.svg?maxAge=2592000&style=flat-square)]() ![](https://img.shields.io/badge/inpPogress-0.8.0-yellow.svg?style=flat-square)

A project committed to make file acess and transfer easier and effiecient for React Native developers.

## TOC
* [About](#user-content-about)
* [Installation](#user-content-installation)
* [Recipes](#user-content-recipes)
 * [Download file](#user-content-download-example--fetch-files-that-needs-authorization-token)
 * [Upload file](#user-content-upload-example--dropbox-files-upload-api)
 * [Multipart/form upload](#user-content-multipartform-data-example--post-form-data-with-file-and-data)
 * [Upload/Download progress](#user-content-uploaddownload-progress)
 * [Cancel HTTP request](#user-content-cancel-request)
 * [Android Media Scanner, and Download Manager Support](#user-content-android-media-scanner-and-download-manager-support)
 * [File access](#user-content-file-access)
 * [File stream](#user-content-file-stream)
 * [Manage cached files](#user-content-cache-file-management)
 * [Self-Signed SSL Server](#user-content-self-signed-ssl-server)
* [API References](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/Fetch-API)
* [Trouble Shooting](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/Trouble-Shooting)
* [Development](#user-content-development)

## About

This project was initially for solving the issue [facebook/react-native#854](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/854), because React Native does not support `Blob` object and it will cause some problem when sending and receiving binary data. There's aleady [a PR ](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/8324) merged into RN master branch which will probably solving the issue in the near future.

Now, this project is committed to make file acess and transfer more easier and more effiecient for React Native developers. We've implemented lot of file access function which plays well with our network module. For example, it can upload and download data directly into/from file system, which is much more performant (especially for large ones) than converting data to BASE64 passing them around through React JS Bridge, also, file stream support so that you can read large file not causing OOM error.

## Installation

Install package from npm

```sh
npm install --save react-native-fetch-blob
```

Link package using [rnpm](https://github.com/rnpm/rnpm)

```sh
rnpm link
```

### Manually link the package (Android)

If rnpm link command failed to link the package automatically, you might try manually link the package.

Open `android/settings.gradle`, and add these lines which will app RNFetchBlob Android project dependency to your app.

```diff
include ':app'      
+ include ':react-native-fetch-blob'                                                                                                  
+ project(':react-native-fetch-blob').projectDir = new File(rootProject.projectDir,' ../node_modules/react-native-fetch-blob/android')                        
```

Add this line to `MainApplication.java`, so that RNFetchBlob package becomes part of react native package.

```diff
...
+ import com.RNFetchBlob.RNFetchBlobPackage;                                                                                 
...
protected List<ReactPackage> getPackages() {
      return Arrays.<ReactPackage>asList(
          new MainReactPackage(),
+          new RNFetchBlobPackage()                                                                                         
      );
    }
  };
...
```
> If you still having problem on installing this package, please check the [trouble shooting page](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/Trouble-Shooting) or [file an issue](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/issues/new)

**Grant Permission to External storage for Android 5.0 or lower**

Mechanism about granting Android permissions has slightly different since Android 6.0 released, please refer to [Official Document](https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting.html).

If you're going to access external storage (say, SD card storage) for `Android 5.0` (or lower) devices, you might have to add the following line to `AndroidManifest.xml`.

```diff
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.rnfetchblobtest"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"/>
+   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />                                               
+   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />                                              

    ...

```

Also, if you're going to use `Android Download Manager` you have to add this to `AndroidManifetst.xml`

```diff
    <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
+           <action android:name="android.intent.action.DOWNLOAD_COMPLETE"/>                          
    </intent-filter>
```

**Grant Access Permission for Android 6.0**

Beginning in Android 6.0 (API level 23), users grant permissions to apps while the app is running, not when they install the app. So adding permissions in `AndroidManifest.xml` won't work in Android 6.0 devices. To grant permissions in runtime, you might use modules like [react-native-android-permissions](https://github.com/lucasferreira/react-native-android-permissions).

## Recipes

ES6

The module uses ES6 style export statement, simply use `import` to load the module.

```js
import RNFetchBlob from 'react-native-fetch-blob'
```

ES5

If you're using ES5 require statement to load the module, please add `default`. See [here](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/Trouble-Shooting#rnfetchblobfetch-is-not-a-function) for more detail.

```
var RNFetchBlob = require('react-native-fetch-blob').default
```

#### Download example : Fetch files that needs authorization token

```js

// send http request in a new thread (using native code)
RNFetchBlob.fetch('GET', 'http://www.example.com/images/img1.png', {
    Authorization : 'Bearer access-token...',
    // more headers  ..
  })
  // when response status code is 200
  .then((res) => {
    // the conversion is done in native code
    let base64Str = res.base64()
    // the following conversions are done in js, it's SYNC
    let text = res.text()
    let json = res.json()

  })
  // Status code is not 200
  .catch((errorMessage, statusCode) => {
    // error handling
  })
```

#### Download to storage directly

The simplest way is give a `fileCache` option to config, and set it to `true`. This will let the incoming response data stored in a temporary path **without** any file extension.

**These files won't be removed automatically, please refer to [Cache File Management](#user-content-cache-file-management)**

```js
RNFetchBlob
  .config({
    // add this option that makes response data to be stored as a file,
    // this is much more performant.
    fileCache : true,
  })
  .fetch('GET', 'http://www.example.com/file/example.zip', {
    some headers ..
  })
  .then((res) => {
    // the temp file path
    console.log('The file saved to ', res.path())
  })
```

**Set Temp File Extension**

Sometimes you might need a file extension for some reason. For instance, when using file path as source of `Image` component, the path should end with something like .png or .jpg, you can do this by add `appendExt` option to `config`.

```js
RNFetchBlob
  .config({
    fileCache : true,
    // by adding this option, the temp files will have a file extension
    appendExt : 'png'
  })
  .fetch('GET', 'http://www.example.com/file/example.zip', {
    some headers ..
  })
  .then((res) => {
    // the temp file path with file extension `png`
    console.log('The file saved to ', res.path())
    // Beware that when using a file path as Image source on Android,
    // you must prepend "file://"" before the file path
    imageView = <Image source={{ uri : Platform.OS === 'android' ? 'file://' + res.path()  : '' + res.path() }}/>
  })
```

**Use Specific File Path**

If you prefer a specific path rather than random generated one, you can use `path` option. We've added a constant [dirs](#user-content-dirs) in v0.5.0 that contains several common used directories.

```js
let dirs = RNFetchBlob.fs.dirs
RNFetchBlob
.config({
  // response data will be saved to this path if it has access right.
  path : dirs.DocumentDir + '/path-to-file.anything'
})
.fetch('GET', 'http://www.example.com/file/example.zip', {
  //some headers ..
})
.then((res) => {
  // the path should be dirs.DocumentDir + 'path-to-file.anything'
  console.log('The file saved to ', res.path())
})
```

**These files won't be removed automatically, please refer to [Cache File Management](#user-content-cache-file-management)**

####  Upload example : Dropbox [files-upload](https://www.dropbox.com/developers/documentation/http/documentation#files-upload) API

`react-native-fetch-blob` will convert the base64 string in `body` to binary format using native API, this process will be  done in a new thread, so it's async.

```js

RNFetchBlob.fetch('POST', 'https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/upload', {
    Authorization : "Bearer access-token...",
    'Dropbox-API-Arg': JSON.stringify({
      path : '/img-from-react-native.png',
      mode : 'add',
      autorename : true,
      mute : false
    }),
    'Content-Type' : 'application/octet-stream',
    // here's the body you're going to send, should be a BASE64 encoded string
    // (you can use "base64" APIs to make one).
    // The data will be converted to "byte array"(say, blob) before request sent.  
  }, base64ImageString)
  .then((res) => {
    console.log(res.text())
  })
  .catch((err) => {
    // error handling ..
  })
```

#### Upload a file from storage

If you're going to use a `file` request body, just wrap the path with `wrap` API.

```js
RNFetchBlob.fetch('POST', 'https://content.dropboxapi.com/2/files/upload', {
    // dropbox upload headers
    Authorization : "Bearer access-token...",
    'Dropbox-API-Arg': JSON.stringify({
      path : '/img-from-react-native.png',
      mode : 'add',
      autorename : true,
      mute : false
    }),
    'Content-Type' : 'application/octet-stream',
    // Change BASE64 encoded data to a file path with prefix `RNFetchBlob-file://`.
    // Or simply wrap the file path with RNFetchBlob.wrap().
  }, RNFetchBlob.wrap(PATH_TO_THE_FILE))
  .then((res) => {
    console.log(res.text())
  })
  .catch((err) => {
    // error handling ..
  })
```

#### Multipart/form-data example : Post form data with file and data

In `version >= 0.3.0` you can also post files with form data, just put an array in `body`, with elements have property `name`, `data`, and `filename`(optional).

Elements have property `filename` will be transformed into binary format, otherwise it turns into utf8 string.

```js

  RNFetchBlob.fetch('POST', 'http://www.example.com/upload-form', {
    Authorization : "Bearer access-token",
    otherHeader : "foo",
    'Content-Type' : 'multipart/form-data',
  }, [
    // element with property `filename` will be transformed into `file` in form data
    { name : 'avatar', filename : 'avatar.png', data: binaryDataInBase64},
    // elements without property `filename` will be sent as plain text
    { name : 'name', data : 'user'},
    { name : 'info', data : JSON.stringify({
      mail : 'example@example.com',
      tel : '12345678'
    })},
  ]).then((resp) => {
    // ...
  }).catch((err) => {
    // ...
  })
```

What if you want to upload a file in some field ? Just like [upload a file from storage](#user-content-upload-a-file-from-storage) example, wrap `data` by `wrap` API (this feature is only available for `version >= v0.5.0`). On version >= `0.6.2`, it is possible to set custom MIME type when appending file to form data.

```js

  RNFetchBlob.fetch('POST', 'http://www.example.com/upload-form', {
    Authorization : "Bearer access-token",
    otherHeader : "foo",
    // this is required, otherwise it won't be process as a multipart/form-data request
    'Content-Type' : 'multipart/form-data',
  }, [
    // append field data from file path
    {
      name : 'avatar',
      filename : 'avatar.png',
      // Change BASE64 encoded data to a file path with prefix `RNFetchBlob-file://`.
      // Or simply wrap the file path with RNFetchBlob.wrap().
      data: RNFetchBlob.wrap(PATH_TO_THE_FILE)
    },
    {
      name : 'ringtone',
      filename : 'ring.mp3',
      // use custom MIME type
      type : 'application/mp3',
      // upload a file from asset is also possible in version >= 0.6.2
      data : RNFetchBlob.wrap(RNFetchBlob.fs.asset('default-ringtone.mp3'))
    }
    // elements without property `filename` will be sent as plain text
    { name : 'name', data : 'user'},
    { name : 'info', data : JSON.stringify({
      mail : 'example@example.com',
      tel : '12345678'
    })},
  ]).then((resp) => {
    // ...
  }).catch((err) => {
    // ...
  })
```

#### Upload/Download progress

In `version >= 0.4.2` it is possible to know the upload/download progress. After `0.7.0` IOS and Android upload progress are supported.

```js
  RNFetchBlob.fetch('POST', 'http://www.example.com/upload', {
      ... some headers,
      'Content-Type' : 'octet-stream'
    }, base64DataString)
    // listen to upload progress event
    .uploadProgress((written, total) => {
        console.log('uploaded', written / total)
    })
    // listen to download progress event
    .progress((received, total) => {
        console.log('progress', received / total)
    })
    .then((resp) => {
      // ...
    })
    .catch((err) => {
      // ...
    })
```

#### Cancel Request

After `0.7.0` it is possible to cancel a HTTP request. When the request cancel, it will definately throws an promise rejection, be sure to catch it.

```js
let task = RNFetchBlob.fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/file/1')

task.then(() => { ... })
    // handle request cancelled rejection
    .catch((err) => {
        console.log(err)
    })
// cancel the request, the callback function is optional
task.cancel((err) => { ... })

```

#### Android Media Scanner, and Download Manager Support

If you want to make a file in `External Storage` becomes visible in Picture, Downloads, or other built-in apps, you will have to use `Media Scanner` or `Download Manager`.

**Media Scanner**

Media scanner scan the file and categorize by given MIME type, if MIME type not specified, it will try to resolve the file using its file extension.

```js

RNFetchBlob
    .config({
        // DCIMDir is in external storage
        path : dirs.DCIMDir + '/music.mp3'
    })
    .fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/music.mp3')
    .then((res) => RNFetchBlob.fs.scanFile([ { path : res.path(), mime : 'audio/mpeg' } ]))
    .then(() => {
        // scan file success
    })
    .catch((err) => {
        // scan file error
    })
```

**Download Manager**

When download large files on Android it is recommended to use `Download Manager`, it supports lot of native features like progress bar, and notification, also the download task will be handled by OS, and more effective.

<img src="img/download-manager.png" width="256">

When using DownloadManager, `fileCache` and `path` properties in `config` will not take effect, because Android DownloadManager can only store files to external storage. When download complete, DownloadManager will generate a file path so that you can deal with it.

```js
RNFetchBlob
    .config({
        addAdnroidDownloads : {
            useDownloadManager : true, // <-- this is the only thing required
            // Optional, override notification setting (default to true)
            notification : false,
            // Optional, but recommended since android DownloadManager will fail when
            // the url does not contains a file extension, by default the mime type will be text/plain
            mime : 'text/plain',
            description : 'File downloaded by download manager.'
        }
    })
    .fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/file/somefile')
    .then((resp) => {
      // the path of downloaded file
      resp.path()
    })
```


**Download Notification and Visibiliy in Download App (Android Only)**

<img src="img/android-notification1.png" width="256">
<img src="img/android-notification2.png" width="256">


If you want to display a notification when file's completely download to storage (as the above), or make the downloaded file visible in "Downloads" app. You have to add some options to `config`.

```js
RNFetchBlob.config({
  fileCache : true,
  // android only options, these options be a no-op on IOS
  addAndroidDownloads : {
    // Show notification when response data transmitted
    notification : true,
    // Title of download notification
    title : 'Great ! Download Success ! :O ',
    // File description (not notification description)
    description : 'An image file.',
    mime : 'image/png',
    // Make the file scannable  by media scanner
    meidaScannable : true,
  }
})
.fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/image1.png')
.then(...)
```

#### File Access

File access APIs were made when developing `v0.5.0`, which helping us write tests, and was not planned to be a part of this module. However we realized that, it's hard to find a great solution to manage cached files, every one who use this moudle may need these APIs for there cases.

Before start using file APIs, we recommend read [Differences between File Source](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#differences-between-file-source) first.

File Access APIs
- [asset (0.6.2)](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#assetfilenamestringstring)
- [dirs](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#dirs)
- [createFile](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#createfilepath-data-encodingpromise)
- [writeFile (0.6.0)](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#writefilepathstring-contentstring--array-encodingstring-appendbooleanpromise)
- [appendFile (0.6.0) ](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#appendfilepathstring-contentstring--array-encodingstringpromise)
- [readFile (0.6.0)](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#readfilepath-encodingpromise)
- [readStream](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#readstreampath-encoding-buffersizepromise)
- [writeStream](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#writestreampathstring-encodingstring-appendbooleanpromise)
- [unlink](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#unlinkpathstringpromise)
- [mkdir](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#mkdirpathstringpromise)
- [ls](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#lspathstringpromise)
- [mv](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#mvfromstring-tostringpromise)
- [cp](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#cpsrcstring-deststringpromise)
- [exists](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#existspathstringpromise)
- [isDir](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#isdirpathstringpromise)
- [stat](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#statpathstringpromise)
- [lstat](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#lstatpathstringpromise)
- [scanFile (Android only)](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API#scanfilepathstringpromise-androi-only)

See [File API](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/File-System-Access-API) for more information

#### File Stream

In `v0.5.0` we've added  `writeStream` and `readStream`, which allows your app read/write data from file path. This API creates a file stream, rather than convert whole data into BASE64 encoded string, it's handy when processing **large files**.

When calling `readStream` method, you have to `open` the stream, and start to read data.

```js
let data = ''
RNFetchBlob.fs.readStream(
    // encoding, should be one of `base64`, `utf8`, `ascii`
    'base64',
    // file path
    PATH_TO_THE_FILE,
    // (optional) buffer size, default to 4096 (4095 for BASE64 encoded data)
    // when reading file in BASE64 encoding, buffer size must be multiples of 3.
    4095)
.then((ifstream) => {
    ifstream.open()
    ifstream.onData((chunk) => {
      // when encoding is `ascii`, chunk will be an array contains numbers
      // otherwise it will be a string
      data += chunk
    })
    ifstream.onError((err) => {
      console.log('oops', err)
    })
    ifstream.onEnd(() => {  
      <Image source={{ uri : 'data:image/png,base64' + data }}
    })
})
```

When use `writeStream`, the stream is also opened immediately, but you have to `write`, and `close` by yourself.

```js
RNFetchBlob.fs.writeStream(
    PATH_TO_FILE,
    // encoding, should be one of `base64`, `utf8`, `ascii`
    'utf8',
    // should data append to existing content ?
    true)
.then((ofstream) => {
    ofstream.write('foo')
    ofstream.write('bar')
    ofstream.close()
})

```

#### Cache File Management

When using `fileCache` or `path` options along with `fetch` API, response data will automatically stored into file system. The files will **NOT** removed unless you `unlink` it. There're several ways to remove the files

```js

  // remove file using RNFetchblobResponse.flush() object method
  RNFetchblob.config({
      fileCache : true
    })
    .fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/download/file')
    .then((res) => {
      // remove cached file from storage
      res.flush()
    })

  // remove file by specifying a path
  RNFetchBlob.fs.unlink('some-file-path').then(() => {
    // ...
  })

```

You can also grouping requests by using `session` API, and use `dispose` to remove them all when needed.

```js

  RNFetchblob.config({
    fileCache : true
  })
  .fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/download/file')
  .then((res) => {
    // set session of a response
    res.session('foo')
  })  

  RNFetchblob.config({
    // you can also set session beforehand
    session : 'foo'
    fileCache : true
  })
  .fetch('GET', 'http://example.com/download/file')
  .then((res) => {
    // ...
  })  

  // or put an existing file path to the session
  RNFetchBlob.session('foo').add('some-file-path')
  // remove a file path from the session
  RNFetchBlob.session('foo').remove('some-file-path')
  // list paths of a session
  RNFetchBlob.session('foo').list()
  // remove all files in a session
  RNFetchBlob.session('foo').dispose().then(() => { ... })

```

#### Self-Signed SSL Server

By default, react-native-fetch-blob does NOT allow connection to unknown certification provider since it's dangerous. If you're going to connect a server with self-signed certification, add `trusty` to `config`. This function is available for version >= `0.5.3`

```js
RNFetchBlob.config({
  trusty : true
})
.then('GET', 'https://mysite.com')
.then((resp) => {
  // ...
})
```

## Changes

| Version | |
|---|---|
| 0.7.5 | Fix installation script that make it compatible to react-native < 0.28 |
| 0.7.4 | Fix app crash problem in version > 0.27 |
| 0.7.3 | Fix OkHttp dependency issue in version < 0.29 |
| 0.7.2 | Fix cancel request bug |
| 0.7.1 | Fix #57 ios module could not compile on ios version <= 9.3 |
| 0.7.0 | Add support of Android upload progress, and remove AsyncHttpClient dependency from Android native implementation. |
| 0.6.4 | Fix rnpm link script. |
| 0.6.3 | Fix performance issue on IOS, increase max concurrent request limitation from 1. |
| 0.6.2 | Add support of asset file and camera roll files, Support custom MIME type when sending multipart request, thanks @smartt |
| 0.6.1 | Fix #37 progress report API issue on IOS |
| 0.6.0 | Add readFile and writeFile API for easier file access, also added Android download manager support. |
| 0.5.8 | Fix #33 PUT request will always be sent as POST on Android |
| 0.5.7 | Fix #31 #30 Xcode pre 7.3 build error |
| 0.5.6 | Add support for IOS network status indicator. Fix file stream ASCII reader bug. |
| 0.5.5 | Remove work in progress code added in 0.5.2 which may cause memory leaks. |
| 0.5.4 | Fix #30 #31 build build error, and improve memory efficiency. |
| 0.5.3 | Add API for access untrusted SSL server |
| 0.5.2 | Fix improper url params bug [#26](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/issues/26) and change IOS HTTP implementation from NSURLConnection to NSURLSession |
| 0.5.0 | Upload/download with direct access to file storage, and also added file access APIs |
| 0.4.2 | Supports upload/download progress |
| 0.4.1 | Fix upload form-data missing file extension problem on Android |
| 0.4.0 | Add base-64 encode/decode library and API |
| ~0.3.0 | Upload/Download octet-stream and form-data |

### Development

If you're interested in hacking this module, check our [development guide](https://github.com/wkh237/react-native-fetch-blob/wiki/Home), there might be some helpful information.
Please feel free to make a PR or file an issue.