Multi-File Upload Form with Preview and Remove Feature using Bootstrap 5.3 and jQuery

This tutorial will show you how to build a beautiful, user-friendly multi-file upload form using HTML, Bootstrap 5.3, and jQuery. This upload form allows users to select multiple files, preview the file names and sizes, and remove any file before submission — all with a sleek and modern interface.

Features

Upload multiple files at once
File size formatting (e.g., KB, MB)
Duplicate file prevention
Remove selected files before uploading
Fully responsive using Bootstrap 5.3

Live Demo Screenshot

Full HTML Code

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>File Upload Form</title>
    <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.3/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <style>
        .file-row {
            display: flex;
            justify-content: space-between;
            align-items: center;
            margin-bottom: 8px;
            padding-bottom: 6px;
            border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
        }
        .file-name {
            flex: 1;
            color: #444;
            font-size: 14px;
            overflow: hidden;
            text-overflow: ellipsis;
            white-space: nowrap;
        }
        .file-size {
            margin-left: 10px;
            font-size: 0.9em;
            color: #6c757d;
        }
        .icon {
            display: inline-block;
            font-size: 1.2em;
            line-height: 1;
            margin-left: 10px;
        }
        .icon.success {
            color: green;
        }
        .icon.remove {
            color: red;
            cursor: pointer;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>

<div class="container mt-5">
    <div class="card p-3 shadow-sm">
        <div class="container py-3">
            <form id="uploadForm" action="#" method="POST" enctype="multipart/form-data">
                <div class="mb-3">
                    <label for="fileupload" class="form-label">Upload Files</label>
                    <input type="file" class="form-control" id="fileupload" name="fileupload[]" multiple>
                </div>

                <div class="mb-3">
                    <div id="file-list"></div>
                </div>

                <div class="mb-3">
                    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary w-100">Submit</button>
                </div>
            </form>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.3/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>

<script>
    const $input = $('#fileupload');
    const $list = $('#file-list');
    const files = [];

    const formatSize = bytes =>
        bytes < 1024 ? `${bytes} B` : `${(bytes / 1024).toFixed(1)} Kb`;

    $input.on('change', function () {
        Array.from(this.files).forEach(file => {
            const exists = files.some(f => f.name === file.name && f.size === file.size);
            if (!exists) {
                files.push(file);
            }
        });
        this.value = null;
        renderFileList();
    });

    $list.on('click', '.remove', function () {
        const index = $(this).data('idx');
        files.splice(index, 1);
        renderFileList();
    });

    function renderFileList() {
        const dataTransfer = new DataTransfer();
        $list.empty();

        files.forEach((file, index) => {
            dataTransfer.items.add(file);
            $list.append(`
                <div class="file-row">
                    <span class="file-name">${file.name}</span>
                    <span class="file-size">${formatSize(file.size)}</span>
                    <span class="icon success">✓</span>
                    <span class="icon remove" data-idx="${index}">✕</span>
                </div>
            `);
        });

        $input[0].files = dataTransfer.files;
    }
</script>

</body>
</html>

How It Works

HTML & Bootstrap:
- The form uses Bootstrap's grid system and form components to create a clean UI.
- The file input allows multiple file selection (multiple attribute).
JavaScript with jQuery:
- When files are selected, the script stores them in a files array.
- It prevents duplicate files by checking the name and size.
- File names, sizes, and a "remove" icon are shown in a styled list.
- Users can remove files from the list before submitting.
- A an DataTransfer object is used to update the backend input.files so that backend still receives the correct files.

Customization Ideas

Add image thumbnails for preview
Limit file types (e.g., only .jpg, .pdf)
Add drag-and-drop support
Show total file size
Add server-side upload handling with PHP, Laravel, or Node.js

Conclusion

This file upload form gives users full control over the files they’re submitting while maintaining a modern and mobile-friendly layout. It’s great for any kind of upload interface — from simple forms to complex media submissions.

Souy Soeng

Multi-File Upload Form using Bootstrap 5.3 and jQuery