Display image file in browser

ITmajor has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

What function do you use in Perl to display an image file in a browser? If I want to display both text and an image, should I use two separate headers or create another program?

Apparently there is some confusion as to what I'm trying to do. Here's more clarification:
I want to output 2 images from my perl script to the browser, one will be generated within the script and the other is a separate image file stored on the server. I want to output both images as well as some text.

When I tried to open the file with this:
$q->header("image/png\n\n")
open(FILE, "name_of_image";
while (<FILE>);
print "$_\n";

I get a bunch of symbols and gibberish. I thought that maybe there is another function to display image files vs. text files. Also, since I want to output both text & images, I wanted to know if I can use 2 different header types in my script or should I create a separate script for text & another for images.

Comment on Display image file in browser

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Display image file in browser by friedo (Prior) on Jul 15, 2008 at 20:35 UTC
You don't use a function in Perl to display an image file in a browser. If you want to display an image in a browser, you use HTML. If the image in question must be dynamically generated by a CGI program, then point the `src` attribute from the `img` tag at the right program, and have that program output the correct content-type header so the browser knows it's getting an image.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Display image file in browser by Joost (Canon) on Jul 15, 2008 at 20:38 UTC
Typically, you'd send an HTML response containing an img tag that requests the image. The image can be generated by a script, or not, depending on what it is you want. "What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"	[reply]
Re: Display image file in browser by alexm (Chaplain) on Jul 15, 2008 at 21:42 UTC
Why do you ask again?	[reply]
Re^2: Display image file in browser by ITmajor (Beadle) on Jul 15, 2008 at 22:03 UTC
this is not the same question, I am trying to bring up a different file (that is completely unrelated) as a comparison	[reply]
Re^3: Display image file in browser by alexm (Chaplain) on Jul 15, 2008 at 22:21 UTC
I am trying to bring up a different file (...) as a comparison Unless you provide further details, it does seem the same question to me, sorry. Maybe if you could show us some code, it will be easier to understand the difference.	[reply]
Re^3: Display image file in browser by Joost (Canon) on Jul 15, 2008 at 22:15 UTC
But surely, it is the same question. Please learn some HTML at least (it's easy) and read up on HTTP (a bit harder, maybe) if you feel up to it. "What should it profit a man, if he should win a flame war, yet lose his cool?"	[reply]