actix-extras/guide/src/qs_12.md

# Static file handling

## Individual file

It is possible to serve static files with custom path pattern and `NamedFile`. To
match path tail we can use `[.*]` regex.

```rust
# extern crate actix_web;
use actix_web::*;
use std::path::PathBuf;

fn index(req: HttpRequest) -> Result<fs::NamedFile> {
    let path: PathBuf = req.match_info().query("tail")?;
    Ok(fs::NamedFile::open(path)?)
}

fn main() {
    Application::new("/")
        .resource(r"/a/{tail:.*}", |r| r.method(Method::GET).f(index))
        .finish();
}
```

## Directory

To serve files from specific directory and sub-directories `StaticFiles` could be used. 
`StaticFiles` could be registered with `Application::resource` method.
`StaticFiles` requires tail named path expression for resource registration.
And this name has to be used in `StaticFile` constructor.

```rust
# extern crate actix_web;
use actix_web::*;

fn main() {
    Application::new("/")
        .resource("/static/{tail:.*}", |r| r.h(fs::StaticFiles::new("tail", ".", true)))
        .finish();
}
```

First parameter is a name of path pattern. Second parameter is a base directory. 
Third parameter is *show_index*, if it is set to *true*
directory listing would be returned for directories, if it is set to *false*
then *404 Not Found* would be returned instead of directory listing.