Uploading File Attachments with Other Fields in Laravel API Using Postman

When building a Laravel API, it’s common to allow users to upload a file (like an image or document) alongside other task details such as the title or due date. Here’s how you can test that functionality using Postman.

🔧 Requirements

Ensure your Laravel setup:

• Accepts multipart/form-data requests.
• Handles file uploads using $request->file('attachment')->store(...).

✅ Step-by-Step: Testing in Postman

1. Choose the API Method

Set the HTTP method to POST or PUT depending on whether you're creating or updating a resource.

Example endpoint:

POST http://localhost:8000/api/tasks

2. Go to the Body Tab

• Select form-data.
• Add key-value pairs for your fields.

3. Enter the Fields

Use a minimal and common set of fields:

👉 Make sure attachment is of type File. The rest should be type Text.

4. Add Authorization (If Required)

If your API requires a token:

• Go to the Authorization tab.
• Select Bearer Token and paste your token there.

🧠 Backend Handling

In your Laravel controller, the attachment handling might look like this:

if ($request->hasFile('attachment')) {
    $filePath = $request->file('attachment')->store('attachments', 'public');
    $task->attachment_path = $filePath;
}

This stores the file in storage/app/public/attachments and saves the path in the database.

✅ Final Tips

• Always test using form-data (not raw JSON) when uploading files.
• Validate the file using Laravel’s mimes and max rules.
• Don't forget to run php artisan storage:link to make attachments accessible via the public URL.

With this approach, you can easily test and upload files alongside basic task fields in your Laravel API.