Property 'files' does not exist on type 'EventTarget' error in typescript

Question

I am trying to access the value of the input file from my ionic 2 application but still I'm facing the issue of property files does not exist on type 'EventTarget'. As it is properly working in js but not in typescript. The code is given below:

  document.getElementById("customimage").onchange= function(e?) {
            var files: any = e.target.files[0]; 
              EXIF.getData(e.target.files[0], function() {
                  alert(EXIF.getTag(this,"GPSLatitude"));
              });
          }

Please help me solve this issue as it is not building my ionic 2 application.

Answer 1

You can cast it as a HTMLInputElement:

document.getElementById("customimage").onchange = function(e: Event) {
    let file = (<HTMLInputElement>e.target).files[0];
    // rest of your code...
}

Update:

You can also use this:

let file = (e.target as HTMLInputElement).files[0];

Answer 2

The e.target property type depends on the element you are returning on getElementById(...). files is a property of input element: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/HTMLInputElement

In this case, the TypeScript compiler doesn't know you are returning an input element and we dont have an Event class specific for this. So, you can create one like the following code:

interface HTMLInputEvent extends Event {
    target: HTMLInputElement & EventTarget;
}

document.getElementById("customimage").onchange = function(e?: HTMLInputEvent) {
    let files: any = e.target.files[0]; 
    //...
}

Answer 3

This is more lines, but I think it's the clearest.

    const onChange = (event: Event) => {
      const target= event.target as HTMLInputElement;
      const file: File = (target.files as FileList)[0];
      /** do something with the file **/
    };

2022 update: Some people have rightly pointed out that the two casts on the second line are unnecessary, this is totally correct and I've revised my answer.

    const onChange = (event: React.ChangeEvent) => {
        const target= event.target as HTMLInputElement;
        const file = target.files[0];
        /** do something with the file **/
    };

Answer 4

const handleFileInput = (event: ChangeEvent) => {
        const target = event.target as HTMLInputElement;
        const file: File = (target.files as FileList)[0];
        /** do something with the file **/
    };

I would change Event to ChangeEvent, however the rest of Devin Clark's answer is great :)

Answer 5

// use - ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>

document.getElementById("customimage").onchange= function(e?: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
            var files: any = e.target.files[0]; 
              EXIF.getData(e.target.files[0], function() {
                  alert(EXIF.getTag(this,"GPSLatitude"));
              });
          }

Answer 6

const onChange => (event: Event): void {
    const input = event.target as HTMLInputElement;

    if (!input.files?.length) {
        return;
    }

    const file = input.files[0];
    console.log(file);
}

Answer 7

I have found that:

<input type="file"  accept="image/*" 
(change)="upload($event)">

and

<ion-input type="file"  accept="image/*" 
(change)="upload($event)"><ion-input>  or (ionChange)

does not handle the event in the same way. Therefore event.target consists of different parameters.

I therefore did not use the ion-input tag, but the normal angular <input> tag with the (change)="upload($event)" trigger.

It worked for me on Ionic 4.

Answer 8

Based on a few other answers and slight refactoring over time I now commonly cast the ChangeEvent in one line like so:

const handleChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
  const files = e.target.files;
  if (!files || !files.length) {
    alert("Please select a file!");
  }
}

Answer 9

Better avoid Type Casting whenever possible. Use e.currentTarget instead of e.target

Answer 10

I just come to solved the same probleme, when I use :

e.target.files

It said that target doesnot have files property, so as you said in type script. You can also use :

e.target['files'][0]

It solved my probleme.

Answer 11

my problem is solved, I am use <any>

if you use useRef, it's also work

Answer 12

function getImg(e: Event) {
  
    const target = e.target as HTMLInputElement;
    const files = target?.files;

    if (files) {
        let url = window.URL.createObjectURL(files[0]);
        return url;
    }

}

Answer 13

after many iterations, this is what worked for me:

async function upload(e: Event & { currentTarget: EventTarget & HTMLInputElement }) {
    if (!e.currentTarget || !e.currentTarget.files) return;
    const file = e.currentTarget.files[0];
    //...
}

i'm on typescript@^5.1.6, using svelte's on:change={upload} but unsure if that's relevant