curl\_mime\_init(3) Library Functions Manual curl\_mime\_init(3)

# [NAME](#NAME)

curl\_mime\_init - create a mime handle

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
curl_mime *curl_mime_init(CURL *easy_handle);
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

[*curl\_mime\_init(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_mime_init.3) creates a handle to a new empty mime structure. This mime structure can be subsequently filled using the mime API, then attached to some easy handle using option [*CURLOPT\_MIMEPOST(3)*](/man/os/curl/CURLOPT_MIMEPOST.3) within a [*curl\_easy\_setopt(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_easy_setopt.3) call or added as a multipart in another mime handle's part using [*curl\_mime\_subparts(3)*](/man/os/curl/curl_mime_subparts.3).

*easy\_handle* is used for part separator randomization and error reporting. Since 7.87.0, it does not need to be the final target handle.

Using a mime handle is the recommended way to post an HTTP form, format and send a multi-part email with SMTP or upload such an email to an IMAP server.

# [PROTOCOLS](#PROTOCOLS)

This functionality affects http, imap and smtp

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

```
int main(void)
{


  CURL *easy = curl_easy_init();


  curl_mime *mime;


  curl_mimepart *part;


  /* Build an HTTP form with a single field named "data", */


  mime = curl_mime_init(easy);


  part = curl_mime_addpart(mime);


  curl_mime_data(part, "This is the field data", CURL_ZERO_TERMINATED);


  curl_mime_name(part, "data");


  /* Post and send it. */


  curl_easy_setopt(easy, CURLOPT_MIMEPOST, mime);


  curl_easy_setopt(easy, CURLOPT_URL, "https://example.com");


  curl_easy_perform(easy);


  /* Clean-up. */


  curl_easy_cleanup(easy);


  curl_mime_free(mime);
}
```

# [AVAILABILITY](#AVAILABILITY)

Added in curl 7.56.0

# [RETURN VALUE](#RETURN_VALUE)

A mime struct handle, or NULL upon failure.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**CURLOPT\_MIMEPOST**(3)](/man/os/curl/CURLOPT_MIMEPOST.3), [**curl\_mime\_addpart**(3)](/man/os/curl/curl_mime_addpart.3), [**curl\_mime\_free**(3)](/man/os/curl/curl_mime_free.3), [**curl\_mime\_subparts**(3)](/man/os/curl/curl_mime_subparts.3)

2026-10-22 libcurl

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Document: curl_mime_init(3) from curl 8.23.0-r2 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/curl/curl.git