It's a browser control built using Adobe Flash technology. It is meant to replace HTML's very limited <input type="file"> tag.

Why replace <input type="file">? It's awkwardly uncustomisable (try changing style on that “Browse” button) and it's very inconvenient. You don't see what's going on when uploading files, there is no way to display upload progress, and you get upload error only when your form is completely submited to the server and all the files are uploaded. That's a no good scenario… at least in our books.

That's where Flash Uploader comes in. It displays neat progress indicator, it does many file verification routines (filetype, max size) on client-side and it's customisable beyond recognition, both visually and functionally.

Among other features:

• Extensive list of visualization options, including custom animations, colors and backgrounds;
• Flash Player 8 compatibility;
• Exntensive upload handling/securing PHP backend;
• Easily integrates with existing HTML forms;
• Transparent fallback compatibility with browsers not supporting Flash 8;
• Easy to integrate;
• Supports multilingual instances;
• JavaScript API;
• Now ActionScript source codes are available;
• FREE for any use (yes even commercial!)

Check out our Demo and see for yourself what our control can do.

In case our free Flash Uploader does is not enough, check out this awesome commercial product MultiPowUpload:

Advanced Flash Uploader MultiPowUpload

Some of advanced features:

• Images preview with basic operations at client side: rotate, crop, uploading thumbnails;
• Latest version supports latest browsers like IE 9, FireFox 4, Chrome 10 and other;
• Multilingual interface (30 languages included);
• Highly customizable user interface with icons;
• Rich JavaScript API;
• Support via email by developer;

Look the Demo of Advanced Flash uploader MultiPowUpload.

Download current release:

SOLMETRA Flash Uploader v1.02 (download here - ZIP 136 KB)

SOLMETRA Flash Uploader v1.02 source codes (download here - ZIP 52 KB)

MULTIPOWUPLOAD Advanced Flash Uploader v 3.x (download here)

Derivative works:

Check out the modified and improved version of Flash Uploader by Chris Valleriani (click here)