1MIME::Type(3) User Contributed Perl Documentation MIME::Type(3)
2
6 MIME::Type - description of one MIME type
7
9 use MIME::Types;
10 my $mimetypes = MIME::Types->new;
11 my MIME::Type $plaintext = $mimetypes->type('text/plain');
12 print $plaintext->mediaType; # text
13 print $plaintext->subType; # plain
14 my @ext = $plaintext->extensions;
16 print "@ext" # txt asc c cc h hh cpp
17 print $plaintext->encoding # 8bit
19 if($plaintext->isBinary) # false
20 if($plaintext->isAscii) # true
21 if($plaintext->equals('text/plain') {...}
22 if($plaintext eq 'text/plain') # same
23 print MIME::Type->simplified('x-appl/x-zip') # 'appl/zip'
25
27 MIME types are used in MIME entities, for instance as part of e-mail
28 and HTTP traffic. Sometimes real knowledge about a mime-type is need.
29 Objects of "MIME::Type" store the information on one such type.
30
32 overload: string comparison
33 When a MIME::Type object is compared to either a string or another
34 MIME::Type, the equals() method is called. Comparison is smart,
35 which means that it extends common string comparison with some
36 features which are defined in the related RFCs.
37 overload: stringification
39 The stringification (use of the object in a place where a string is
40 required) will result in the type name, the same as type() returns.
41 example: use of stringification
43 my $mime = MIME::Type->new('text/html');
45 print "$mime\n"; # explicit stringification
46 print $mime; # implicit stringification
47
49 Initiation
50 MIME::Type->new(%options)
51 Create (instantiate) a new MIME::Type object which manages one mime
52 type.
53 -Option --Default
55 encoding <depends on type>
56 extensions []
57 simplified <derived from type>
58 system undef
59 type <required>
60 encoding => '7bit'|'8bit'|'base64'|'quoted-printable'
62 How must this data be encoded to be transported safely. The
63 default depends on the type: mimes with as main type "text/" will
64 default to "quoted-printable" and all other to "base64".
65 extensions => REF-ARRAY
67 An array of extensions which are using this mime.
68 simplified => STRING
70 The mime types main- and sub-label can both start with "x-", to
71 indicate that is a non-registered name. Of course, after
72 registration this flag can disappear which adds to the confusion.
73 The simplified string has the "x-" thingies removed and are
74 translated to lower-case.
75 system => REGEX
77 Regular expression which defines for which systems this rule is
78 valid. The REGEX is matched on $^O.
79 type => STRING
81 The type which is defined here. It consists of a type and a sub-
82 type, both case-insensitive. This module will return lower-case,
83 but accept upper-case.
84 Attributes
86 $obj->encoding()
87 Returns the type of encoding which is required to transport data of
88 this type safely.
89 $obj->extensions()
91 Returns a list of extensions which are known to be used for this
92 mime type.
93 $obj->simplified( [$string] )
95 MIME::Type->simplified( [$string] )
96 Returns the simplified mime type for this object or the specified
97 STRING. Mime type names can get officially registered. Until
98 then, they have to carry an "x-" preamble to indicate that. Of
99 course, after recognition, the "x-" can disappear. In many cases,
100 we prefer the simplified version of the type.
101 example: results of simplified()
103 my $mime = MIME::Type->new(type => 'x-appl/x-zip');
105 print $mime->simplified; # 'appl/zip'
106 print $mime->simplified('text/PLAIN'); # 'text/plain'
108 print MIME::Type->simplified('x-xyz/x-abc'); # 'xyz/abc'
109 $obj->system()
111 Returns the regular expression which can be used to determine
112 whether this type is active on the system where you are working on.
113 $obj->type()
115 Returns the long type of this object, for instance 'text/plain'
116 Knowledge
118 $obj->equals($string|$mime)
119 Compare this mime-type object with a STRING or other object. In
120 case of a STRING, simplification will take place.
121 $obj->isAscii()
123 Old name for isText().
124 $obj->isBinary()
126 Returns true when the type is not known to be text. See isText().
127 $obj->isExperimental()
129 [2.00] Return "true" when the type is defined for experimental use;
130 the subtype starts with "x."
131 $obj->isPersonal()
133 [2.00] Return "true" when the type is defined by a person for
134 private use; the subtype starts with "prs."
135 $obj->isRegistered()
137 Mime-types which are not registered by IANA nor defined in RFCs
138 shall start with an "x-". This counts for as well the media-type
139 as the sub-type. In case either one of the types starts with "x-"
140 this method will return false.
141 $obj->isSignature()
143 Returns true when the type is in the list of known signatures.
144 $obj->isText()
146 [2.05] All types which may have the charset attribute, are text.
147 However, there is currently no record of attributes in this
148 module... so we guess.
149 $obj->isVendor()
151 [2.00] Return "true" when the type is defined by a vendor; the
152 subtype starts with "vnd."
153 $obj->mediaType()
155 The media type of the simplified mime. For 'text/plain' it will
156 return 'text'.
157 For historical reasons, the 'mainType' method still can be used to
159 retrieve the same value. However, that method is deprecated.
160 $obj->subType()
162 The sub type of the simplified mime. For 'text/plain' it will
163 return 'plain'.
164
166 Error: Type parameter is obligatory.
167 When a MIME::Type object is created, the type itself must be
168 specified with the "type" option flag.
169
171 This module is part of MIME-Types distribution version 2.24, built on
172 December 28, 2022. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/
173
175 Copyrights 1999-2022 by [Mark Overmeer <markov@cpan.org>]. For other
176 contributors see ChangeLog.
177 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
179 under the same terms as Perl itself. See http://dev.perl.org/licenses/
180perl v5.38.0 2023-07-20 MIME::Type(3)