Tiempo de lectura: 2 minutos

👋 Introduction

Struggling to deliver files from your Oracle APEX app?
Dealing with messy headers, complex conversions, or unsupported file types?

Oracle APEX 24.2 introduced APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD, a clean and efficient way to download files from your app using PL/SQL. Whether you’re generating dynamic reports, exporting PDFs, or delivering binary documents—this procedure handles it all.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• What APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD does and when to use it
• How to implement it in a real APEX app
• How to handle CLOB to BLOB conversion
• Best practices for secure, fast, and user-friendly downloads

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📚 Table of Contents

1. What is APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD?
2. Syntax and Parameters
3. Real Example: PDF Contract Download
4. Special Cases: MIME Types & CLOB Handling
5. Best Practices
6. Conclusion and Course Recommendation

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1. What is APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD?

APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD is a built-in procedure in Oracle APEX that allows you to stream files (usually stored as BLOBs) directly to the user’s browser.

Unlike older approaches (HTP.P, OWA_UTIL, or ORDS hacks), this method is native, clean, and secure.

It works well for downloadable reports, dynamic files, user uploads, and even runtime-generated content.

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2. Syntax and Parameters

APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD(
   p_content_disposition IN VARCHAR2,
   p_mime_type           IN VARCHAR2,
   p_content             IN BLOB,
   p_filename            IN VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL );

• p_content_disposition: 'inline' or 'attachment'
• p_mime_type: MIME type of the file (e.g., 'application/pdf')
• p_content: File content as a BLOB
• p_filename: Optional file name to show in the download prompt

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3. Real Example: PDF Contract Download

Assume you have a table CONTRACTS that stores PDF documents:

CREATE TABLE contracts (
  id              NUMBER PRIMARY KEY,
  customer        VARCHAR2(100),
  pdf_file        BLOB,
  file_name       VARCHAR2(255),
  mime_type       VARCHAR2(100)
);

You create a page with a “Download” button and a PL/SQL process:

DECLARE
   l_blob     BLOB;
   l_mime     VARCHAR2(100);
   l_name     VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
   SELECT pdf_file, mime_type, file_name
     INTO l_blob, l_mime, l_name
     FROM contracts
    WHERE id = :P1_CONTRACT_ID;

   APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD(
      p_content_disposition => 'attachment',
      p_mime_type           => l_mime,
      p_content             => l_blob,
      p_filename            => l_name
   );
END;

✅ The user gets a properly named file, downloaded directly in their browser.

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4. Special Cases: MIME Types & CLOB Handling

If you’re dealing with CLOB data (e.g., text files or HTML), convert it to BLOB first:

FUNCTION clob_to_blob(p_clob IN CLOB) RETURN BLOB IS
  l_blob BLOB;
BEGIN
  DBMS_LOB.CREATETEMPORARY(l_blob, TRUE);
  DBMS_LOB.CONVERTTOBLOB(l_blob, p_clob, DBMS_LOB.LOBMAXSIZE, 1, 1);
  RETURN l_blob;
END;

Common MIME types:

• PDF → application/pdf
• Excel → application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
• Image → image/png or image/jpeg
• CSV → text/csv

Use 'inline' for files that can be viewed in the browser, and 'attachment' for downloads.

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5. Best Practices

✅ Always validate the file exists before calling the procedure.
✅ Use correct MIME types to avoid browser issues.
✅ Set appropriate file names to improve UX.
✅ Secure access to the procedure using session checks or user roles.
✅ Log downloads if the file is sensitive or audited.

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6. Conclusion

APEX_HTTP.DOWNLOAD is the go-to method for file delivery in modern APEX applications. It’s elegant, efficient, and supports both simple and advanced scenarios.

No more fiddling with HTTP headers or ORDS workarounds.

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🎓 Want to Learn More?

Check out my full course on Oracle APEX file handling:

👉 Access the full APEX course at Aprendiz Academy
Includes lessons on BLOBs, CLOBs, PDF generation, ORDS integration, and secure download patterns.