Encode Local File as Data URI
fal_encode_file_as_data_uriEncode a local file as a data URI string to use in fal model fields like image_url without needing to upload the file.
Instructions
Reads a local file and returns it as a base64 data: URI that can be passed directly into fal model arguments (e.g. as an image_url field) wherever a hosted file URL is expected. fal's API accepts base64 data URIs anywhere it accepts a file URL — no separate upload step is required.
This is a local, offline operation — it does not contact fal.ai or any network service.
Args:
file_path (string): Absolute path to a local file (e.g. an image to use in an image-to-image model)
Returns: A data: URI string, e.g. "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KG...". Use this string directly as the value of an image_url (or similar) field in fal_run_model / fal_submit_request arguments.
Examples:
Use when: "Use this local screenshot as input for the kontext model" -> encode it, then pass the result as image_url
Don't use when: the file is already hosted at a public URL — just pass that URL directly
Don't use when: the file is very large (>10MB) — large data URIs slow down requests; host the file publicly instead
Error Handling:
Returns "File not found" if the path doesn't exist
Returns "File too large" if the file exceeds 15MB (data URI overhead makes this impractical)
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_path | Yes | Absolute path to a local file to encode, e.g. a PNG or JPEG image. |