diff --git a/core/modules/file/src/Entity/File.php b/core/modules/file/src/Entity/File.php
index 92aa436423..295dec5634 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/src/Entity/File.php
+++ b/core/modules/file/src/Entity/File.php
@@ -262,4 +262,38 @@ public static function getDefaultEntityOwner() {
     return NULL;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Creates or reuses a file object based on a URI.
+   *
+   * @param string $uri
+   *   A string containing the URI.
+   * @param bool $reuse_existing
+   *   If TRUE will try to reuse an existing file with the same URI.
+   *   If FALSE will always create a new file.
+   *
+   * @return static
+   *   A file object.
+   */
+  public static function createOrReuseFromUri($uri, $reuse_existing = TRUE) {
+    if ($reuse_existing) {
+      // Check if this file already exists, and if so, return that.
+      $storage = \Drupal::entityTypeManager()->getStorage('file');
+      $files = $storage->loadByProperties(['uri' => $uri]);
+      if ($valid_files = array_filter($files, function (FileInterface $file) {
+        // By default only permanent files or temporary files owned by the
+        // current user should be re-used.
+        return $file->isPermanent() || $file->getOwnerId() == \Drupal::currentUser()
+          ->id();
+      })) {
+        return reset($valid_files);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // If an existing file could not be found, create a new file.
+    return static::create([
+      'uri' => $uri,
+      'uid' => \Drupal::currentUser()->id(),
+    ]);
+  }
+
 }