$_FILES contains the uploaded file while Laravel request does not

Question

I am using Laravel as an API and AngularJS as the front-end to interact with it. I am trying to upload a file using ng-file-upload but I am facing a weird issue.

The global variable $_FILES only contains the uploaded while $request->file('img') is empty so the custom request validation fails as it can not see the uploaded file.

I have found couple of answers stating to add use Illuminate\\Http\\UploadedFile; to the controller so I can access the uploaded file but I can't so far. I have checked the code having enctype="multipart/form-data" in the form but still nothing works

How can I access the file and at the same time the validation rules are applied correctly?

Angular Form:

<div class="small-6 medium-3 columns small-centered">
    <form name="products.storeForm" ng-submit="products.store()" enctype="multipart/form-data">
        <label>Name</label>
        <input type="text" ng-model="products.product.name" name="name" required>
        <label>Image</label>
        <img ng-src="{{image_source}}">
        <input type="file" name="img" onchange="angular.element(this).scope().setFile(this)" ngf-pattern="image/*" accept="image/*" ng-model="products.product.img">
        <button type="submit" class="button">Submit</button>
    </form>
</div>

Angular Service:

service.store = function(product){
    console.log(product.img)
    return Upload.upload({
        url: url,
        headers: { 'Content-Type' : 'application/json' },
        method: 'POST',
        sendFieldAs: 'form',
        fields: {
            name: product.name
        },
        file: product.img,
        fileFormDataName: 'image'
    })
};

Answer 1

Don't have the means to test this, but I the fact that you are passing the image with the image key would be my starting point (on your Angular upload service):

fileFormDataName: 'image'

But you are trying to fetch it using the img key in Laravel:

$request->file('img')

Answer 2

Just try below test code at laravel controller method before $request->file('img') and I hope you will get the your answer.

print('<pre style="color:red;">');
print_r($request->all());
print('</pre>');
exit;