FileSystemEntry.toURL()

Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

The FileSystemEntry interface's method toURL() creates and returns a string containing a URL which can be used to identify the file system entry. This is done by exposing a new URL scheme—filesystem:—that can be used as the value of src and href attributes.

Syntax

FileSystemEntry.toURL([mimeType]);

Parameters

mimeType Optional
An optional string specifying the MIME type to use when interpreting the file. This can be used to help deal with files whose types aren't recognized automatically by the user agent. If this parameter is omitted, the user agent uses its standard algorithms to identify the file.

Return value

A DOMString containing a URL that can then be used as a document reference in HTML content, or an empty string if the URL can't be generated (such as if the file system implementation doesn't support toURL()).

Example

If you have a FileSystemFileEntry corresponding to an image file in a file system available to your Web site or app, you can call toURL() to get its URL for use in HTML. If your site is located at http://my-awesome-website.woot, and you have a temporary file system that contains an image file named awesomesauce.jpg, the URL returned by toURL() might be (depending on the browser's implementation) something like "filesystem:http://my-awesome-website.woot/temporary/awesomesauce.jpg".

Code that makes use of this might look like this:

let img = document.createElement("img");

img.src = imageFileEntry.toURL();
document.body.appendChild(img);

Assuming the scenario mentioned before the code, the result would be HTML that looks like this being appended to the end of the document:

<img src="filesystem:http://my-awesome-website.woot/temporary/awesomesauce.jpg">

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
toURL
ExperimentalDeprecatedNon-standard
Chrome Full support 8Edge Full support 79Firefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.

See also