How do you implement MongoDB GridFS for file storage in Spring Boot?

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Configuring MongoDB GridFS in Spring Boot
  • Add Dependencies
  • Configure MongoDB Connection
• Implementing GridFS in Spring Boot
  • 1. File Upload with GridFS
    • File Upload Service
  • 2. File Download with GridFS
    • File Download Service
• Practical Example
  • REST Controller for File Storage
    • File Storage Controller
  • Testing the API
• Conclusion

Introduction

MongoDB GridFS is a specification for storing and retrieving large files, such as images, videos, or documents, in chunks. In a Spring Boot application, GridFS is ideal for managing files when their size exceeds the BSON document size limit (16MB). This guide walks through the steps to integrate and use MongoDB GridFS for efficient file storage.

Configuring MongoDB GridFS in Spring Boot

Add Dependencies

Include the required dependency for MongoDB in your pom.xml:

Configure MongoDB Connection

Set up your MongoDB URI in the application.properties file:

Implementing GridFS in Spring Boot

1. File Upload with GridFS

GridFS stores files in chunks and metadata in the fs.files and fs.chunks collections.

File Upload Service

2. File Download with GridFS

File Download Service

Practical Example

REST Controller for File Storage

File Storage Controller

Testing the API

1. Upload a File
   • Use a tool like Postman to send a POST request to /files/upload with a file as form data.
   • The response will return a file ID.
2. Download the File
   • Send a GET request to /files/download/{fileId} using the returned file ID.
   • The file will be downloaded to your system.

Conclusion

MongoDB GridFS provides an efficient way to manage large files in Spring Boot applications. By integrating GridFS, you can store and retrieve files with metadata, ensuring scalability and reliability. With examples for file upload and download, this guide equips you to implement robust file storage solutions using MongoDB.