NAME

MIME::Type - description of one MIME type

SYNOPSIS

use MIME::Types;
my $mimetypes = MIME::Types->new;
my MIME::Type $plaintext = $mimetypes->type('text/plain');
print $plaintext->mediaType;   # text
print $plaintext->subType;     # plain

my @ext = $plaintext->extensions;
print "@ext"                   # txt asc c cc h hh cpp

print $plaintext->encoding     # 8bit
if($plaintext->isBinary)       # false
if($plaintext->isAscii)        # true
if($plaintext->equals('text/plain') {...}
if($plaintext eq 'text/plain') # same

print MIME::Type->simplified('x-appl/x-zip') #  'appl/zip'

DESCRIPTION

MIME types are used in MIME entities, for instance as part of e-mail and HTTP traffic. Sometimes real knowledge about a mime-type is need. Objects of MIME::Type store the information on one such type.

OVERLOADED

overload: string comparison

When a MIME::Type object is compared to either a string or another MIME::Type, the equals() method is called. Comparison is smart, which means that it extends common string comparison with some features which are defined in the related RFCs.

overload: stringification

The stringification (use of the object in a place where a string is required) will result in the type name, the same as type() returns.

example: use of stringification

my $mime = MIME::Type->new('text/html');
print "$mime\n";   # explicit stringification
print $mime;       # implicit stringification

METHODS

Initiation

MIME::Type->new(%options)

Create (instantiate) a new MIME::Type object which manages one mime type.

-Option    --Default
 encoding    <depends on type>
 extensions  []
 simplified  <derived from type>
 system      undef
 type        <required>

encoding => '7bit'|'8bit'|'base64'|'quoted-printable'

How must this data be encoded to be transported safely. The default depends on the type: mimes with as main type text/ will default to quoted-printable and all other to base64.

extensions => REF-ARRAY

An array of extensions which are using this mime.

simplified => STRING

The mime types main- and sub-label can both start with x-, to indicate that is a non-registered name. Of course, after registration this flag can disappear which adds to the confusion. The simplified string has the x- thingies removed and are translated to lower-case.

system => REGEX

Regular expression which defines for which systems this rule is valid. The REGEX is matched on $^O.

type => STRING

The type which is defined here. It consists of a type and a sub-type, both case-insensitive. This module will return lower-case, but accept upper-case.

Attributes

$obj->encoding()

Returns the type of encoding which is required to transport data of this type safely.

$obj->extensions()

Returns a list of extensions which are known to be used for this mime type.

$obj->simplified( [$string] )

MIME::Type->simplified( [$string] )

Returns the simplified mime type for this object or the specified STRING. Mime type names can get officially registered. Until then, they have to carry an x- preamble to indicate that. Of course, after recognition, the x- can disappear. In many cases, we prefer the simplified version of the type.

example: results of simplified()

my $mime = MIME::Type->new(type => 'x-appl/x-zip');
print $mime->simplified;                     # 'appl/zip'

print $mime->simplified('text/PLAIN');       # 'text/plain'
print MIME::Type->simplified('x-xyz/x-abc'); # 'xyz/abc'

$obj->system()

Returns the regular expression which can be used to determine whether this type is active on the system where you are working on.

$obj->type()

Returns the long type of this object, for instance 'text/plain'

Knowledge

$obj->equals($string|$mime)

Compare this mime-type object with a STRING or other object. In case of a STRING, simplification will take place.

$obj->isAscii()

Old name for isText().

$obj->isBinary()

Returns true when the type is not known to be text. See isText().

$obj->isExperimental()

[2.00] Return true when the type is defined for experimental use; the subtype starts with x.

$obj->isPersonal()

[2.00] Return true when the type is defined by a person for private use; the subtype starts with prs.

$obj->isRegistered()

Mime-types which are not registered by IANA nor defined in RFCs shall start with an x-. This counts for as well the media-type as the sub-type. In case either one of the types starts with x- this method will return false.

$obj->isSignature()

Returns true when the type is in the list of known signatures.

$obj->isText()

[2.05] All types which may have the charset attribute, are text. However, there is currently no record of attributes in this module... so we guess.

$obj->isVendor()

[2.00] Return true when the type is defined by a vendor; the subtype starts with vnd.

$obj->mediaType()

The media type of the simplified mime. For 'text/plain' it will return 'text'.

For historical reasons, the 'mainType' method still can be used to retrieve the same value. However, that method is deprecated.

$obj->subType()

The sub type of the simplified mime. For 'text/plain' it will return 'plain'.

DIAGNOSTICS

Error: Type parameter is obligatory.

When a MIME::Type object is created, the type itself must be specified with the type option flag.

SEE ALSO

This module is part of MIME-Types distribution version 2.26, built on February 06, 2024. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/

LICENSE

Copyrights 1999-2024 by [Mark Overmeer <markov@cpan.org>]. For other contributors see ChangeLog.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. See http://dev.perl.org/licenses/