consistent profile image, initials with background color as backup, better profile image editing

backend/routes/items.js

@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ router.get("/", async (req, res, next) => {
         {
           model: User,
           as: "owner",
-          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName"],
+          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName", "imageFilename"],
         },
       ],
       limit: parseInt(limit),
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ router.get("/recommendations", authenticateToken, async (req, res, next) => {
 router.get('/:id/reviews', async (req, res, next) => {
   try {
     const { Rental, User } = require('../models');
-    
+
     const reviews = await Rental.findAll({
       where: {
         itemId: req.params.id,
@@ -185,10 +185,10 @@ router.get('/:id/reviews', async (req, res, next) => {
         itemReviewVisible: true
       },
       include: [
-        { 
+        {
-          model: User, 
+          model: User,
-          as: 'renter', 
+          as: 'renter',
-          attributes: ['id', 'firstName', 'lastName'] 
+          attributes: ['id', 'firstName', 'lastName', 'imageFilename']
         }
       ],
       order: [['createdAt', 'DESC']]
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ router.get("/:id", optionalAuth, async (req, res, next) => {
         {
           model: User,
           as: "owner",
-          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName"],
+          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName", "imageFilename"],
         },
         {
           model: User,

backend/routes/rentals.js

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ router.get("/renting", authenticateToken, async (req, res) => {
         {
           model: User,
           as: "owner",
-          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName"],
+          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName", "imageFilename"],
         },
       ],
       order: [["createdAt", "DESC"]],
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ router.get("/owning", authenticateToken, async (req, res) => {
         {
           model: User,
           as: "renter",
-          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName"],
+          attributes: ["id", "firstName", "lastName", "imageFilename"],
         },
       ],
       order: [["createdAt", "DESC"]],

frontend/src/components/Avatar.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import { getPublicImageUrl } from "../services/uploadService";
+
+interface AvatarUser {
+  id?: string;
+  firstName: string;
+  lastName: string;
+  imageFilename?: string;
+}
+
+interface AvatarProps {
+  user: AvatarUser | null;
+  size?: "xs" | "sm" | "md" | "lg" | "xl" | "xxl" | "xxxl";
+  sizePx?: number;
+  className?: string;
+  onClick?: () => void;
+  imageUrl?: string | null;
+}
+
+const sizeMap: Record<string, number> = {
+  xs: 30,
+  sm: 32,
+  md: 35,
+  lg: 50,
+  xl: 60,
+  xxl: 120,
+  xxxl: 150,
+};
+
+const colors = [
+  "#6366f1", // Indigo
+  "#8b5cf6", // Violet
+  "#ec4899", // Pink
+  "#ef4444", // Red
+  "#f97316", // Orange
+  "#eab308", // Yellow
+  "#22c55e", // Green
+  "#14b8a6", // Teal
+  "#06b6d4", // Cyan
+  "#3b82f6", // Blue
+];
+
+const getAvatarColor = (
+  firstName: string,
+  lastName: string,
+  userId?: string
+): string => {
+  const input = userId || `${firstName}${lastName}`;
+  let hash = 0;
+  for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
+    hash = input.charCodeAt(i) + ((hash << 5) - hash);
+  }
+  return colors[Math.abs(hash) % colors.length];
+};
+
+const getInitials = (firstName: string, lastName: string): string => {
+  const firstInitial = firstName?.charAt(0)?.toUpperCase() || "";
+  const lastInitial = lastName?.charAt(0)?.toUpperCase() || "";
+  return `${firstInitial}${lastInitial}` || "?";
+};
+
+const Avatar: React.FC<AvatarProps> = ({
+  user,
+  size = "md",
+  sizePx,
+  className = "",
+  onClick,
+  imageUrl: directImageUrl,
+}) => {
+  const [imageError, setImageError] = useState(false);
+
+  // Reset error state when image URL changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setImageError(false);
+  }, [directImageUrl, user?.imageFilename]);
+
+  const pixelSize = sizePx || sizeMap[size];
+  const fontSize = Math.max(pixelSize * 0.4, 12);
+
+  // Handle missing user - show generic placeholder
+  if (!user) {
+    return (
+      <div
+        className={`rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center text-white ${className}`}
+        style={{
+          width: pixelSize,
+          height: pixelSize,
+          fontSize: fontSize,
+          cursor: onClick ? "pointer" : "default",
+        }}
+        onClick={onClick}
+        role="img"
+        aria-label="User avatar"
+      >
+        <i className="bi bi-person-fill"></i>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  const { firstName, lastName, imageFilename, id } = user;
+  // Use direct imageUrl if provided, otherwise construct from imageFilename
+  const imageUrl = directImageUrl || (imageFilename ? getPublicImageUrl(imageFilename) : null);
+  const hasValidImage = imageUrl && !imageError;
+
+  if (hasValidImage) {
+    return (
+      <img
+        src={imageUrl}
+        alt={`${firstName} ${lastName}`}
+        className={`rounded-circle ${className}`}
+        style={{
+          width: pixelSize,
+          height: pixelSize,
+          objectFit: "cover",
+          cursor: onClick ? "pointer" : "default",
+        }}
+        onClick={onClick}
+        onError={() => setImageError(true)}
+      />
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Initials fallback
+  const bgColor = getAvatarColor(firstName, lastName, id);
+  const initials = getInitials(firstName, lastName);
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`rounded-circle d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center text-white fw-bold ${className}`}
+      style={{
+        width: pixelSize,
+        height: pixelSize,
+        backgroundColor: bgColor,
+        fontSize: fontSize,
+        cursor: onClick ? "pointer" : "default",
+      }}
+      onClick={onClick}
+      role="img"
+      aria-label={`${firstName} ${lastName}'s avatar`}
+    >
+      {initials}
+    </div>
+  );
+};
+
+export default Avatar;

frontend/src/components/ChatWindow.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { User, Message } from "../types";
 import { useAuth } from "../contexts/AuthContext";
 import { useSocket } from "../contexts/SocketContext";
 import TypingIndicator from "./TypingIndicator";
+import Avatar from "./Avatar";
 
 interface ChatWindowProps {
   show: boolean;
@@ -462,21 +463,7 @@ const ChatWindow: React.FC<ChatWindowProps> = ({
       {/* Header */}
       <div className="bg-primary text-white p-3 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between flex-shrink-0">
         <div className="d-flex align-items-center">
-          {recipient.imageFilename ? (
+          <Avatar user={recipient} size="md" className="me-2" />
-            <img
-              src={recipient.imageFilename}
-              alt={`${recipient.firstName} ${recipient.lastName}`}
-              className="rounded-circle me-2"
-              style={{ width: "35px", height: "35px", objectFit: "cover" }}
-            />
-          ) : (
-            <div
-              className="rounded-circle bg-white bg-opacity-25 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center me-2"
-              style={{ width: "35px", height: "35px" }}
-            >
-              <i className="bi bi-person-fill text-white"></i>
-            </div>
-          )}
           <div>
             <h6 className="mb-0">
               {recipient.firstName} {recipient.lastName}

frontend/src/components/ItemReviews.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 import { Rental } from "../types";
 import { itemAPI } from "../services/api";
+import Avatar from "./Avatar";
 
 interface ItemReviewsProps {
   itemId: string;
@@ -85,28 +86,7 @@ const ItemReviews: React.FC<ItemReviewsProps> = ({ itemId }) => {
                       onClick={() => rental.renter && navigate(`/users/${rental.renterId}`)}
                       style={{ cursor: "pointer" }}
                     >
-                      {rental.renter?.imageFilename ? (
+                      <Avatar user={rental.renter || null} size="sm" />
-                        <img
-                          src={rental.renter.imageFilename}
-                          alt={`${rental.renter.firstName} ${rental.renter.lastName}`}
-                          className="rounded-circle"
-                          style={{
-                            width: "32px",
-                            height: "32px",
-                            objectFit: "cover",
-                          }}
-                        />
-                      ) : (
-                        <div
-                          className="rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"
-                          style={{ width: "32px", height: "32px" }}
-                        >
-                          <i
-                            className="bi bi-person-fill text-white"
-                            style={{ fontSize: "0.8rem" }}
-                          ></i>
-                        </div>
-                      )}
                       <div>
                         <strong style={{ color: "#0d6efd" }}>
                           {rental.renter?.firstName} {rental.renter?.lastName}

frontend/src/components/ReviewModal.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React, { useState } from "react";
 import { rentalAPI } from "../services/api";
 import { Rental } from "../types";
 import SuccessModal from "./SuccessModal";
+import Avatar from "./Avatar";
 
 interface ReviewItemModalProps {
   show: boolean;
@@ -102,26 +103,7 @@ const ReviewItemModal: React.FC<ReviewItemModalProps> = ({
               {rental.owner && rental.item && (
                 <div className="mb-4 text-center">
                   <div className="d-flex justify-content-center mb-3">
-                    {rental.owner.imageFilename ? (
+                    <Avatar user={rental.owner} size="xl" />
-                      <img
-                        src={rental.owner.imageFilename}
-                        alt={`${rental.owner.firstName} ${rental.owner.lastName}`}
-                        className="rounded-circle"
-                        style={{
-                          width: "60px",
-                          height: "60px",
-                          objectFit: "cover",
-                        }}
-                      />
-                    ) : (
-                      <div
-                        className="rounded-circle bg-primary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center text-white fw-bold"
-                        style={{ width: "60px", height: "60px" }}
-                      >
-                        {rental.owner.firstName[0]}
-                        {rental.owner.lastName[0]}
-                      </div>
-                    )}
                   </div>
                   <h6 className="mb-1">
                     {rental.owner.firstName} {rental.owner.lastName}

frontend/src/components/ReviewRenterModal.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React, { useState } from "react";
 import { rentalAPI } from "../services/api";
 import { Rental } from "../types";
 import SuccessModal from "./SuccessModal";
+import Avatar from "./Avatar";
 
 interface ReviewRenterModalProps {
   show: boolean;
@@ -102,26 +103,7 @@ const ReviewRenterModal: React.FC<ReviewRenterModalProps> = ({
               {rental.renter && rental.item && (
                 <div className="mb-4 text-center">
                   <div className="d-flex justify-content-center mb-3">
-                    {rental.renter.imageFilename ? (
+                    <Avatar user={rental.renter} size="xl" />
-                      <img
-                        src={rental.renter.imageFilename}
-                        alt={`${rental.renter.firstName} ${rental.renter.lastName}`}
-                        className="rounded-circle"
-                        style={{
-                          width: "60px",
-                          height: "60px",
-                          objectFit: "cover",
-                        }}
-                      />
-                    ) : (
-                      <div
-                        className="rounded-circle bg-primary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center text-white fw-bold"
-                        style={{ width: "60px", height: "60px" }}
-                      >
-                        {rental.renter.firstName[0]}
-                        {rental.renter.lastName[0]}
-                      </div>
-                    )}
                   </div>
                   <h6 className="mb-1">
                     {rental.renter.firstName} {rental.renter.lastName}

frontend/src/pages/ItemDetail.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { getPublicImageUrl } from "../services/uploadService";
 import GoogleMapWithRadius from "../components/GoogleMapWithRadius";
 import ItemReviews from "../components/ItemReviews";
 import ConfirmationModal from "../components/ConfirmationModal";
+import Avatar from "../components/Avatar";
 
 const ItemDetail: React.FC = () => {
   const { id } = useParams<{ id: string }>();
@@ -480,28 +481,7 @@ const ItemDetail: React.FC = () => {
                   onClick={() => navigate(`/users/${item.ownerId}`)}
                   style={{ cursor: "pointer" }}
                 >
-                  {item.owner.imageFilename ? (
+                  <Avatar user={item.owner} size="xs" className="me-2" />
-                    <img
-                      src={item.owner.imageFilename}
-                      alt={`${item.owner.firstName} ${item.owner.lastName}`}
-                      className="rounded-circle me-2"
-                      style={{
-                        width: "30px",
-                        height: "30px",
-                        objectFit: "cover",
-                      }}
-                    />
-                  ) : (
-                    <div
-                      className="rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center me-2"
-                      style={{ width: "30px", height: "30px" }}
-                    >
-                      <i
-                        className="bi bi-person-fill text-white"
-                        style={{ fontSize: "0.8rem" }}
-                      ></i>
-                    </div>
-                  )}
                   <span className="text-muted">
                     {item.owner.firstName} {item.owner.lastName}
                   </span>

frontend/src/pages/Messages.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { messageAPI } from "../services/api";
 import { useAuth } from "../contexts/AuthContext";
 import { useSocket } from "../contexts/SocketContext";
 import ChatWindow from "../components/ChatWindow";
+import Avatar from "../components/Avatar";
 
 const Messages: React.FC = () => {
   const { user } = useAuth();
@@ -230,25 +231,7 @@ const Messages: React.FC = () => {
                     <div className="d-flex w-100 justify-content-between align-items-start">
                       <div className="d-flex align-items-center flex-grow-1">
                         {/* Profile Picture */}
-                        {conversation.partner.imageFilename ? (
+                        <Avatar user={conversation.partner} size="lg" className="me-3" />
-                          <img
-                            src={conversation.partner.imageFilename}
-                            alt={`${conversation.partner.firstName} ${conversation.partner.lastName}`}
-                            className="rounded-circle me-3"
-                            style={{
-                              width: "50px",
-                              height: "50px",
-                              objectFit: "cover",
-                            }}
-                          />
-                        ) : (
-                          <div
-                            className="rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center me-3"
-                            style={{ width: "50px", height: "50px" }}
-                          >
-                            <i className="bi bi-person-fill text-white"></i>
-                          </div>
-                        )}
 
                         <div className="flex-grow-1" style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
                           {/* User Name and Unread Badge */}

frontend/src/pages/Profile.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import AvailabilitySettings from "../components/AvailabilitySettings";
 import ReviewItemModal from "../components/ReviewModal";
 import ReviewRenterModal from "../components/ReviewRenterModal";
 import ReviewDetailsModal from "../components/ReviewDetailsModal";
+import Avatar from "../components/Avatar";
 import {
   geocodingService,
   AddressComponents,
@@ -313,6 +314,11 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 
         // Update preview to use the S3 URL
         setImagePreview(publicUrl);
+
+        // Save imageFilename to database immediately
+        const response = await userAPI.updateProfile({ imageFilename: key });
+        setProfileData(response.data);
+        updateUser(response.data);
       } catch (err: any) {
         console.error("Image upload error:", err);
         setError(err.message || "Failed to upload image");
@@ -747,55 +753,34 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
                 <div className="card-body">
                   <div className="text-center">
                     <div className="position-relative d-inline-block mb-3">
-                      {imagePreview ? (
+                      <Avatar
-                        <img
+                        user={user}
-                          src={imagePreview}
+                        size="xxl"
-                          alt="Profile"
+                        imageUrl={imagePreview}
-                          className="rounded-circle"
+                      />
-                          style={{
+                      <label
-                            width: "120px",
+                        htmlFor="imageFilenameOverview"
-                            height: "120px",
+                        className="position-absolute bottom-0 end-0 btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-circle d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"
-                            objectFit: "cover",
+                        style={{
-                          }}
+                          width: "35px",
+                          height: "35px",
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        <i className="bi bi-pencil-fill"></i>
+                        <input
+                          type="file"
+                          id="imageFilenameOverview"
+                          accept="image/*"
+                          onChange={handleImageChange}
+                          className="d-none"
                         />
-                      ) : (
+                      </label>
-                        <div
-                          className="rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"
-                          style={{ width: "120px", height: "120px" }}
-                        >
-                          <i
-                            className="bi bi-person-fill text-white"
-                            style={{ fontSize: "2.5rem" }}
-                          ></i>
-                        </div>
-                      )}
-                      {editing && (
-                        <label
-                          htmlFor="imageFilenameOverview"
-                          className="position-absolute bottom-0 end-0 btn btn-sm btn-primary rounded-circle"
-                          style={{
-                            width: "35px",
-                            height: "35px",
-                            padding: "0",
-                          }}
-                        >
-                          <i className="bi bi-camera-fill"></i>
-                          <input
-                            type="file"
-                            id="imageFilenameOverview"
-                            accept="image/*"
-                            onChange={handleImageChange}
-                            className="d-none"
-                          />
-                        </label>
-                      )}
                     </div>
 
                     <div>
                       <h5>
                         {profileData?.firstName} {profileData?.lastName}
                       </h5>
-                      <p className="text-muted">@{profileData?.username}</p>
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 </div>

frontend/src/pages/PublicProfile.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { userAPI, itemAPI } from '../services/api';
 import { getPublicImageUrl } from '../services/uploadService';
 import { useAuth } from '../contexts/AuthContext';
 import ChatWindow from '../components/ChatWindow';
+import Avatar from '../components/Avatar';
 
 const PublicProfile: React.FC = () => {
   const { id } = useParams<{ id: string }>();
@@ -72,21 +73,7 @@ const PublicProfile: React.FC = () => {
           <div className="card">
             <div className="card-body">
               <div className="text-center mb-4">
-                {user.imageFilename ? (
+                <Avatar user={user} size="xxxl" className="mb-3 mx-auto" />
-                  <img
-                    src={user.imageFilename}
-                    alt={`${user.firstName} ${user.lastName}`}
-                    className="rounded-circle mb-3"
-                    style={{ width: '150px', height: '150px', objectFit: 'cover' }}
-                  />
-                ) : (
-                  <div 
-                    className="rounded-circle bg-secondary d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center mb-3 mx-auto"
-                    style={{ width: '150px', height: '150px' }}
-                  >
-                    <i className="bi bi-person-fill text-white" style={{ fontSize: '3rem' }}></i>
-                  </div>
-                )}
                 <h3>{user.firstName} {user.lastName}</h3>
                 {currentUser && currentUser.id !== user.id && (
                   <button