python-mimeparse
A module provides basic functions for parsing mime-type names and matching them against a list of media-ranges.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a stable, dependency-free utility for a standard HTTP task. Install it if your application handles content negotiation or needs to parse media-ranges; the low friction and active maintenance make it a safe choice. Skip it only if your framework already provides this functionality built-in.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained with recent commits and broad Python version support from 3.8 through 3.13 on both CPython and PyPy.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
last release 2024-08-25 (719 days) · last repo commit 2026-04-20 · 20 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 865,700 downloads/mo, #4,863 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install python-mimeparse
import mimeparse
best = mimeparse.best_match(['application/json', 'text/html'], 'application/json, text/html;q=0.9')- Whether the package is actively developed beyond maintenance mode or if it is in stable-only status
- Real-world performance characteristics when matching against large lists of media-ranges
What it is and what it does
Python-MimeParse is a lightweight utility for parsing and matching MIME types in HTTP content negotiation. It implements the media-range matching logic from RFC 7231 Section 5.3.2, allowing applications to determine which content type best satisfies a client's Accept header. The package provides functions to parse MIME types into components, extract quality parameters, and select the highest-quality match from a list of candidates.
It has no external runtime dependencies and supports Python 3.8 through 3.13 on both CPython and PyPy. The module is mature (first released in 2012) and actively maintained, making it a stable choice for any HTTP framework or API server that needs to negotiate content types with clients.
Use it for
- REST API servers selecting response format (JSON vs XML vs HTML) based on client Accept headers
- Web frameworks implementing HTTP content negotiation during request routing
- Middleware that must parse and rank media-ranges to determine the best response encoding
- Testing HTTP clients that need to verify correct Accept header handling
- Proxy or gateway applications filtering or transforming responses by MIME type preference
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a stable, dependency-free utility for a standard HTTP task. Install it if your application handles content negotiation or needs to parse media-ranges; the low friction and active maintenance make it a safe choice. Skip it only if your framework already provides this functionality built-in.
Install
python-mimeparse on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent commits and broad Python version support from 3.8 through 3.13 on both CPython and PyPy.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
Quickstart
pip install python-mimeparse
import mimeparse
best = mimeparse.best_match(['application/json', 'text/html'], 'application/json, text/html;q=0.9')Verify before relying
- Whether the package is actively developed beyond maintenance mode or if it is in stable-only status
- Real-world performance characteristics when matching against large lists of media-ranges
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 719 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 865,700 / month, #4,863 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTPTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: python_mimeparse-2.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also mediatype · zope.contenttype · filetype · rfc3339 · rfc3987 · pyRFC3339 · mail-parser · tika · uritools · pyas2lib