Embed a full-featured file manager in a CMS or admin panel so users can upload and organize files without FTP access
Connect CKEditor or TinyMCE to elFinder so content authors can pick images from a server-side media library
Add Dropbox, Google Drive, or S3 as a virtual folder accessible from a web browser without writing custom cloud code
Build a multi-user file interface with configurable upload limits, allowed file types, and image auto-resize on upload
Versions 2.1.67 and earlier have serious security vulnerabilities, only deploy current releases on public-facing servers.
elFinder is a web-based file manager that lets users browse, organize, and manage files on a server through a browser, similar to the file manager built into a desktop operating system. The interface takes inspiration from the Finder application on macOS, with familiar operations like drag and drop, right-click context menus, keyboard shortcuts, and both list and icon views. The tool runs as a JavaScript front-end built with jQuery and jQuery UI, paired with a server-side connector written in PHP. You install it on a web server, configure the connector to point at the files you want to expose, and users can then access it through any modern browser on desktop or mobile. No special client software is required. File operations available through the interface include copying, moving, uploading, creating folders, renaming, and deleting. Large file uploads are handled in chunks so they do not time out on slow connections. Users can also upload files directly from a URL, extract and create archives in formats like zip and tar, preview common file types without leaving the browser, and edit text files and images in place. Storage is not limited to the server's local file system. elFinder ships with drivers for FTP, SFTP, MySQL, and several cloud storage services including Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box. It also works with AWS S3, Azure, and DigitalOcean Spaces through a third-party Flysystem driver. The project is commonly embedded in content management systems as a media picker, with documented integration paths for editors like CKEditor and TinyMCE. Access rights, allowed upload types, and the user interface itself are all configurable. Server-side plugins cover tasks like auto-resizing uploaded images, adding watermarks, and normalizing file names. elFinder is released under the BSD 3-Clause license. The README carries a prominent warning that versions 2.1.67 and earlier have serious security vulnerabilities and should not remain on public servers.
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