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mimeType()

Returns the MIME type associated with the file at the URL’s path.

Declaration​

func mimeType() -> String

Return Value​

The MIME type associated with the file at the URL’s path.

Discussion​

The mimeType() method returns a String representing the MIME type of the file at the URL’s path. If the file extension is recognized by the system, the method returns the preferred MIME type for that extension. If the file extension is not recognized, the method returns the default MIME type "application/octet-stream".

MIME types, or Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, are used to identify the type of data being transmitted over the Internet. They are especially important when transferring files, as they allow recipient applications to determine how to handle the incoming data.

  • Semantics:

    • If the URL’s path extension is recognized by the system, the method returns the preferred MIME type for that extension.
    • If the URL’s path extension is not recognized, the method returns "application/octet-stream".
    • If the URL does not have a path extension, the method returns "application/octet-stream".

  • Examples:

let fileURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/path/to/file.pdf")
let mimeType = fileURL.mimeType() // Returns "application/pdf"

In this example, the mimeType() method returns "application/pdf" because the .pdf extension is recognized by the system, and the preferred MIME type for PDF files is "application/pdf".

let fileURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/path/to/file.unknown")
let mimeType = fileURL.mimeType() // Returns "application/octet-stream"

In this example, the mimeType() method returns "application/octet-stream" because the .unknown extension is not recognized by the system, and "application/octet-stream" is the default MIME type for unknown file types.