path: root/guide/static_handlers.md

Static handlers
===============

Purpose
-------

Static handlers are a built-in REST handler for serving files. They
are available as a convenience and provide fast file serving with
proper cache handling.

It is recommended to use a Content Distribution Network (CDN) or at
least a dedicated file server running on a dedicated cookie-less
hostname for serving your application's static files in production.

Usage
-----

Static handlers are pre-written REST handlers. They only need
to be specified in the routing information with the proper options.

The following example routing serves all files found in the
`priv_dir/static/` directory of the application `my_app`. It uses
a mimetypes library to figure out the files' content types.

``` erlang
Dispatch = [
	{'_', [
		{"/[...]", cowboy_static, [
			{directory, {priv_dir, my_app, [<<"static">>]}},
			{mimetypes, {fun mimetypes:path_to_mimes/2, default}}
		]}
	]}
].
```