Thanks, Domenic! I really appreciate the feedback. I agree that documenting both the original DownloadURL behavior and the new multi-file extension is important, especially since the DownloadURL drag type hasn’t been formally specified. I’ll begin drafting a spec that covers both formats—starting with consensus on the extended format for supporting multiple files.
On Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 8:01:35 PM UTC-7 Domenic Denicola wrote: > This is a fascinating proposal. I had no idea about this nonstandard > DownloadURL format. > > Although it is not necessary at the prototype stage, as part of shipping > this, it will probably be necessary to write a spec for both the original > DownloadURL feature and this new extension to it. > > On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM Chromestatus < > ad...@cr-status.appspotmail.com> wrote: > >> Contact emails joone...@microsoft.com, jo...@chromium.org >> >> Explainer >> https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge/MSEdgeExplainers/blob/main/DownloadURL/explainer.md >> >> >> Specification None >> >> Design docs >> >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nHPDuEE876RMKwYBVzWgPvsek-9X1NhZuFyY5Q5Z6YU/edit?usp=sharing >> >> >> Summary >> >> This feature extends the existing DownloadURL drag type to allow users to >> drag and drop multiple files simultaneously from a web application (such as >> a webmail client or a web-based tool) directly to their desktop or file >> system on Windows. Historically, the DownloadURL drag type has been limited >> to supporting the download of a single file per drag-and-drop operation. >> This new design addresses that limitation by introducing a JSON array >> format for the DownloadURL string, allowing it to carry information for >> multiple files. >> >> >> Blink component Blink>DataTransfer >> <https://issues.chromium.org/issues?q=customfield1222907:%22Blink%3EDataTransfer%22> >> >> >> Motivation >> >> This enhancement addresses a significant pain point for users who >> frequently interact with web applications that involve multiple >> downloadable items. For example, users can now download multiple email >> attachments from a webmail client (e.g., Outlook Web) or export multiple >> generated reports or images from a web-based tool using a single drag >> gesture, rather than being forced to perform multiple, inefficient, and >> cumbersome drag-and-drop operations for each file. >> >> >> Initial public proposal https://issues.chromium.org/issues/40736398 >> >> TAG review None >> >> TAG review status Pending >> >> Risks >> >> >> Interoperability and Compatibility >> >> None >> >> >> *Gecko*: No signal >> >> *WebKit*: No signal >> >> *Web developers*: No signals >> >> *Other signals*: >> >> WebView application risks >> >> Does this intent deprecate or change behavior of existing APIs, such that >> it has potentially high risk for Android WebView-based applications? >> >> None >> >> >> Debuggability >> >> None >> >> >> Is this feature fully tested by web-platform-tests >> <https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/testing/web_platform_tests.md> >> ? No >> >> Flag name on about://flags None >> >> Finch feature name None >> >> Non-finch justification None >> >> Requires code in //chrome? False >> >> Tracking bug https://issues.chromium.org/issues/40736398 >> >> Estimated milestones >> >> No milestones specified >> >> >> Link to entry on the Chrome Platform Status >> https://chromestatus.com/feature/4909387902746624?gate=5108211938099200 >> >> This intent message was generated by Chrome Platform Status >> <https://chromestatus.com>. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "blink-dev" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to blink-dev+unsubscr...@chromium.org. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/68a65bd3.050a0220.815fa.0219.GAE%40google.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/68a65bd3.050a0220.815fa.0219.GAE%40google.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "blink-dev" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to blink-dev+unsubscr...@chromium.org. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/chromium.org/d/msgid/blink-dev/1ad04854-d178-47e3-bfb4-baa2f78a18f4n%40chromium.org.
