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Asked: 2026-06-02T19:23:30+00:00

Having read the answer to this question: How to upload folder in web application

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Having read the answer to this question:
How to upload folder in web application‘, is a web application able to browse a folder structure on the client user’s machine?

This would be useful to, say, upload all files and subfolders within a nested folder structure without the user having to navigate the entire target folder heirarchy herself.

I assume this is not possible because HTML/Javascript executing by itself (not in conjunction with Java or Flash plugin) does not have permission to browse folders the client machine? But some of my colleagues disagree so I want to put the question out there.

If it is possible, then how? I’m looking for the theory here, not a full code solution, but not so theoretical that you’ve never verified it.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Answer: Not possible

    Since no one has answered and I haven’t been able to find a hint of doubt reading through W3C specs and IEFT HTML and HTTP RFCs I am 99% sure this is not possible (probably why no one answered).

    1. It would be a security risk. If a webpage could browse a folder your personal data could be compromised by a website that started browsing from c drive root.

    2. The <input type=”file” … /> tag doesn’t return the file path information, just the file stream and its metadata anyway, so it’s doubt there’s some other a HTML entity that can be used to post back file path information on a file upload.

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