# Static Files { #static-files }

You can serve static files automatically from a directory using `StaticFiles`.

## Use `StaticFiles` { #use-staticfiles }

* Import `StaticFiles`.
* "Mount" a `StaticFiles()` instance in a specific path.

{* ../../docs_src/static_files/tutorial001.py hl[2,6] *}

/// note | Technical Details

You could also use `from starlette.staticfiles import StaticFiles`.

# Request Files { #request-files }

You can define files to be uploaded by the client using `File`.

/// info

To receive uploaded files, first install <a href="https://github.com/Kludex/python-multipart" class="external-link" target="_blank">`python-multipart`</a>.

Make sure you create a [virtual environment](../virtual-environments.md){.internal-link target=_blank}, activate it, and then install it, for example:

```console

# Request Forms and Files { #request-forms-and-files }

You can define files and form fields at the same time using `File` and `Form`.

/// info

To receive uploaded files and/or form data, first install <a href="https://github.com/Kludex/python-multipart" class="external-link" target="_blank">`python-multipart`</a>.

Make sure you create a [virtual environment](../virtual-environments.md){.internal-link target=_blank}, activate it, and then install it, for example:

		if err != nil {
			t.Fatal(err)
		}
	}
}

// generateUsageTestFiles create nFolders * nFiles files of size bytes each.
func generateUsageTestFiles(t *testing.T, base, bucket string, nFolders, nFiles, size int) {
	pl := make([]byte, size)
	for i := range nFolders {
		name := filepath.Join(base, bucket, fmt.Sprint(i), "0.txt")
		err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(name), os.ModePerm)
		if err != nil {

			args = []string{"xl.meta"}
		}
		var files []string

		for _, pattern := range args {
			if pattern == "-" {
				files = append(files, pattern)
				continue
			}
			found, err := filepathx.Glob(pattern)
			if err != nil {
				return err
			}
			if len(found) == 0 {
				return fmt.Errorf("unable to find file %v", pattern)
			}
			files = append(files, found...)
		}
		if len(files) == 0 {

                Path tempDir = Files.createTempDirectory("smbtest");

                // Create directory structure
                Files.createDirectories(tempDir.resolve("public"));
                Files.createDirectories(tempDir.resolve("shared"));

                // Create some initial files
                Files.writeString(tempDir.resolve("public/readme.txt"), "This is a public share for testing");

      id: get_file_changes
      uses: trilom/file-changes-action@a6ca26c14274c33b15e6499323aac178af06ad4b # v1.2.4
      with:
        output: ' '
    - name: Report list of changed files
      run: |
        echo Changed files: ${{ steps.get_file_changes.outputs.files }}
    - name: Set up Python 3.9
      uses: actions/setup-python@a26af69be951a213d495a4c3e4e4022e16d87065 # v5.6.0
      with:
        python-version: "3.9"

        try {
            Files.deleteIfExists(handleFile);
            log.debug("Removed persisted handle file: {}", handleFile);
        } catch (IOException e) {
            log.error("Failed to remove persisted handle file: " + handleFile, e);
        }
    }

    private void loadPersistedHandles() {
        if (!Files.exists(stateDirectory)) {
            return;
        }

### Remotely Inspecting backend data

By default, those files are served from a <abbr title="Content Delivery Network: A service, normally composed of several servers, that provides static files, like JavaScript and CSS. It's commonly used to serve those files from the server closer to the client, improving performance.">CDN</abbr>.

But it's possible to customize it, you can set a specific CDN, or serve the files yourself.