---
c: Copyright (C) Daniel Stenberg, <daniel@haxx.se>, et al.
SPDX-License-Identifier: curl
Title: curl_mime_filedata
Section: 3
Source: libcurl
See-also:
  - curl_mime_addpart (3)
  - curl_mime_data (3)
  - curl_mime_filename (3)
  - curl_mime_name (3)
Protocol:
  - HTTP
  - IMAP
  - SMTP
---

# NAME

curl_mime_filedata - set a mime part's body data from a file contents

# SYNOPSIS

~~~c
#include <curl/curl.h>

CURLcode curl_mime_filedata(curl_mimepart *part,
                            const char *filename);
~~~

# DESCRIPTION

curl_mime_filedata(3) sets a mime part's body content from the named
file's contents. This is an alternative to curl_mime_data(3) for setting
data to a mime part.

*part* is the part's to assign contents to.

*filename* points to the null-terminated file's path name. The pointer can
be NULL to detach the previous part contents settings. Filename storage can
be safely be reused after this call.

As a side effect, the part's remote filename is set to the base name of the
given *filename* if it is a valid named file. This can be undone or
overridden by a subsequent call to curl_mime_filename(3).

The contents of the file is read during the file transfer in a streaming
manner to allow huge files to get transferred without using much memory. It
therefore requires that the file is kept intact during the entire request.

If the file size cannot be determined before actually reading it (such as for
a character device or named pipe), the whole mime structure containing the
part is transferred using chunks by HTTP but is rejected by IMAP.

Setting a part's contents multiple times is valid: only the value set by the
last call is retained.

# EXAMPLE

~~~c
int main(void)
{
  curl_mime *mime;
  curl_mimepart *part;

  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    /* create a mime handle */
    mime = curl_mime_init(curl);

    /* add a part */
    part = curl_mime_addpart(mime);

    /* send data from this file */
    curl_mime_filedata(part, "image.png");

    /* set name */
    curl_mime_name(part, "data");
  }
}
~~~

# AVAILABILITY

As long as at least one of HTTP, SMTP or IMAP is enabled. Added in 7.56.0.

# RETURN VALUE

CURLE_OK or a CURL error code upon failure. CURLE_READ_ERROR is only an
indication that the file is not yet readable: it can be safely ignored at
this time, but the file must be made readable before the pertaining
easy handle is performed.
