# accepts

**Kind:** Function

**Source:** [`src/helper/accepts/accepts.ts`](https://github.com/honojs/hono/blob/main/src/helper/accepts/accepts.ts#L40)

**Part of:** [Helper](subsystem-src-helper)

Match the accept header with the given options.

`accepts` checks the request `Accept` header against the media types passed to it. It returns the matching option so route handlers can select an appropriate response representation.

## Signature

```ts
function accepts(c: Context, options: acceptsOptions): string
```

## Parameters

| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| `c` | `Context` |
| `options` | `acceptsOptions` |

**Returns:** `string`

## Diagram

```mermaid
graph LR
  Request[Incoming request] --> Context[Context]
  Context --> Accepts[accepts]
  Options[Supported media types] --> Accepts
  Accepts --> Match[Matching media type]
  Match --> Response[Route response]
```

## Usage

```ts
import { Hono } from 'hono'
import { accepts } from 'hono/accepts'

const app = new Hono()

app.get('/profile', (c) => {
  const type = accepts(c, 'application/json', 'text/html')

  if (type === 'text/html') {
    return c.html('<h1>Profile</h1>')
  }

  if (type === 'application/json') {
    return c.json({ name: 'Ada' })
  }

  return c.text('Not Acceptable', 406)
})
```

## AI Coding Instructions

- Pass the Hono context as the first argument, followed by the media types the handler can return.
- Check the returned value before sending a representation, since no supplied type may match the request header.
- Keep media type strings aligned with the response methods used by the route.
- Return an appropriate unsupported-media response when no acceptable type is selected.