An Alphebetized List of MIME Types

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An Alphebetized List of MIME Types

MIME types, short for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, are a way to specify the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. They play a crucial role in web development as they help the browser understand how to handle different types of files.

A MIME type usually consists of two parts: a type and a subtype, separated by a slash. The type indicates a general category (like text or video), while the subtype specifies the exact kind of data within that category. For instance, text/html for HTML documents, image/jpeg for JPEG images, and application/json for JSON data.

For web developers, understanding and correctly using MIME types is vital for several reasons:

  1. Correct Processing of Files: Web servers use the MIME type, not the file extension, to determine how to process a URL. This is important because a wrong MIME type can lead to misinterpretation of files, causing websites to not function correctly or files to be mishandled.
  2. Browser Compatibility: Different browsers might handle MIME types in varying ways. If a server or application reports an incorrect MIME type, or a default type for unknown content, browsers might behave unexpectedly. Some browsers might attempt to guess the correct MIME type, which can lead to loss of control over how content is processed and displayed.
  3. Security: Certain MIME types, like those for executable programs, can pose security risks. Proper configuration of MIME types is crucial to ensure that potentially unsafe content is handled appropriately.
  4. Content Presentation: MIME types allow authors and web administrators to specify how content should be displayed or processed. For example, an HTML document can be sent as either text/html to be displayed as a webpage or text/plain to show the source code.
  5. Compatibility with Standards and Protocols: Correctly using MIME types ensures adherence to web standards and protocols, improving interoperability and the overall user experience on the web.

Here’s a list of common (and some not-so-common) MIME types, listed in one convenient table, alphabetized by file suffix. Please note that while this list is long, it isn’t completely exhaustive. For a complete and updated list, please refer to the official IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) MIME types list​.

Suffixes applicable Media type and subtype(s)
.3dm x-world/x-3dmf
.3dmf x-world/x-3dmf
.7z application/x-7z-compressed
.a application/octet-stream
.aab application/x-authorware-bin
.aam application/x-authorware-map
.aas application/x-authorware-seg
.abc text/vnd.abc
.acgi text/html
.afl video/animaflex
.ai application/postscript
.aif audio/aiff
.aif audio/x-aiff
.aifc audio/aiff
.aifc audio/x-aiff
.aiff audio/aiff
.aiff audio/x-aiff
.aim application/x-aim
.aip text/x-audiosoft-intra
.ani application/x-navi-animation
.aos application/x-nokia-9000-communicator-add-on-software
.aps application/mime
.arc application/octet-stream
.arj application/arj
.arj application/octet-stream
.art image/x-jg
.asf video/x-ms-asf
.asm text/x-asm
.asp text/asp
.asx application/x-mplayer2
.asx video/x-ms-asf
.asx video/x-ms-asf-plugin
.au audio/basic
.au audio/x-au
.avi application/x-troff-msvideo
.avi video/avi
.avi video/msvideo
.avi video/x-msvideo
.avs video/avs-video
.bcpio application/x-bcpio
.bin application/mac-binary
.bin application/macbinary
.bin application/octet-stream
.bin application/x-binary
.bin application/x-macbinary
.bm image/bmp
.bmp image/bmp
.bmp image/x-windows-bmp
.boo application/book
.book application/book
.boz application/x-bzip2
.bsh application/x-bsh
.bz application/x-bzip
.bz2 application/x-bzip2
.c text/plain
.c text/x-c
.c++ text/plain
.cat application/vnd.ms-pki.seccat
.cc text/plain
.cc text/x-c
.ccad application/clariscad
.cco application/x-cocoa
.cdf application/cdf
.cdf application/x-cdf
.cdf application/x-netcdf
.cer application/pkix-cert
.cer application/x-x509-ca-cert
.cha application/x-chat
.chat application/x-chat
.class application/java
.class application/java-byte-code
.class application/x-java-class
.com application/octet-stream
.com text/plain
.conf text/plain
.cpio application/x-cpio
.cpp text/x-c
.cpt application/mac-compactpro
.cpt application/x-compactpro
.cpt application/x-cpt
.crl application/pkcs-crl
.crl application/pkix-crl
.crt application/pkix-cert
.crt application/x-x509-ca-cert
.crt application/x-x509-user-cert
.csh application/x-csh
.csh text/x-script.csh
.css application/x-pointplus
.css text/css
.csv text/csv
.cxx text/plain
.dcr application/x-director
.deepv application/x-deepv
.def text/plain
.der application/x-x509-ca-cert
.dif video/x-dv
.dir application/x-director
.dl video/dl
.dl video/x-dl
.doc application/msword
.docx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
.dot application/msword
.dp application/commonground
.drw application/drafting
.dump application/octet-stream
.dv video/x-dv
.dvi application/x-dvi
.dwf drawing/x-dwf (old)
.dwf model/vnd.dwf
.dwg application/acad
.dwg image/vnd.dwg
.dwg image/x-dwg
.dxf application/dxf
.dxf image/vnd.dwg
.dxf image/x-dwg
.dxr application/x-director
.el text/x-script.elisp
.elc application/x-bytecode.elisp (compiled elisp)
.elc application/x-elc
.env application/x-envoy
.eot application/vnd.ms-fontobject
.eps application/postscript
.es application/x-esrehber
.etx text/x-setext
.evy application/envoy
.evy application/x-envoy
.exe application/octet-stream
.f text/plain
.f text/x-fortran
.f77 text/x-fortran
.f90 text/plain
.f90 text/x-fortran
.fdf application/vnd.fdf
.fif application/fractals
.fif image/fif
.flac audio/flac
.fli video/fli
.fli video/x-fli
.flo image/florian
.flx text/vnd.fmi.flexstor
.fmf video/x-atomic3d-feature
.for text/plain
.for text/x-fortran
.fpx image/vnd.fpx
.fpx image/vnd.net-fpx
.frl application/freeloader
.funk audio/make
.g text/plain
.g3 image/g3fax
.gif image/gif
.gl video/gl
.gl video/x-gl
.gsd audio/x-gsm
.gsm audio/x-gsm
.gsp application/x-gsp
.gss application/x-gss
.gtar application/x-gtar
.gz application/x-compressed
.gz application/x-gzip
.gzip application/x-gzip
.gzip multipart/x-gzip
.h text/plain
.h text/x-h
.hdf application/x-hdf
.help application/x-helpfile
.hgl application/vnd.hp-hpgl
.hh text/plain
.hh text/x-h
.hlb text/x-script
.hlp application/hlp
.hlp application/x-helpfile
.hlp application/x-winhelp
.hpg application/vnd.hp-hpgl
.hpgl application/vnd.hp-hpgl
.hqx application/binhex
.hqx application/binhex4
.hqx application/mac-binhex
.hqx application/mac-binhex40
.hqx application/x-binhex40
.hqx application/x-mac-binhex40
.hta application/hta
.htc text/x-component
.htm text/html
.html text/html
.htmls text/html
.htt text/webviewhtml
.htx text/html
.ice x-conference/x-cooltalk
.ico image/x-icon
.ics text/calendar
.idc text/plain
.ief image/ief
.iefs image/ief
.iges application/iges
.iges model/iges
.igs application/iges
.igs model/iges
.ima application/x-ima
.imap application/x-httpd-imap
.inf application/inf
.ins application/x-internett-signup
.ip application/x-ip2
.isu video/x-isvideo
.it audio/it
.iv application/x-inventor
.ivr i-world/i-vrml
.ivy application/x-livescreen
.jam audio/x-jam
.jav text/plain
.jav text/x-java-source
.java text/plain
.java text/x-java-source
.jcm application/x-java-commerce
.jfif image/jpeg
.jfif image/pjpeg
.jfif-tbnl image/jpeg
.jpe image/jpeg
.jpe image/pjpeg
.jpeg image/jpeg
.jpeg image/pjpeg
.jpg image/jpeg
.jpg image/pjpeg
.jps image/x-jps
.js application/x-javascript
.js application/javascript
.js application/ecmascript
.js text/javascript
.js text/ecmascript
.json application/json
.jut image/jutvision
.kar audio/midi
.kar music/x-karaoke
.ksh application/x-ksh
.ksh text/x-script.ksh
.la audio/nspaudio
.la audio/x-nspaudio
.lam audio/x-liveaudio
.latex application/x-latex
.lha application/lha
.lha application/octet-stream
.lha application/x-lha
.lhx application/octet-stream
.list text/plain
.lma audio/nspaudio
.lma audio/x-nspaudio
.log text/plain
.lsp application/x-lisp
.lsp text/x-script.lisp
.lst text/plain
.lsx text/x-la-asf
.ltx application/x-latex
.lzh application/octet-stream
.lzh application/x-lzh
.lzx application/lzx
.lzx application/octet-stream
.lzx application/x-lzx
.m text/plain
.m text/x-m
.m1v video/mpeg
.m2a audio/mpeg
.m2v video/mpeg
.m3u audio/x-mpequrl
.man application/x-troff-man
.map application/x-navimap
.mar text/plain
.mbd application/mbedlet
.mc$ application/x-magic-cap-package-1.0
.mcd application/mcad
.mcd application/x-mathcad
.mcf image/vasa
.mcf text/mcf
.mcp application/netmc
.me application/x-troff-me
.mht message/rfc822
.mhtml message/rfc822
.mid application/x-midi
.mid audio/midi
.mid audio/x-mid
.mid audio/x-midi
.mid music/crescendo
.mid x-music/x-midi
.midi application/x-midi
.midi audio/midi
.midi audio/x-mid
.midi audio/x-midi
.midi music/crescendo
.midi x-music/x-midi
.mif application/x-frame
.mif application/x-mif
.mime message/rfc822
.mime www/mime
.mjf audio/x-vnd.audioexplosion.mjuicemediafile
.mjpg video/x-motion-jpeg
.mka audio/x-matroska
.mkv video/x-matroska
.mm application/base64
.mm application/x-meme
.mme application/base64
.mod audio/mod
.mod audio/x-mod
.moov video/quicktime
.mov video/quicktime
.movie video/x-sgi-movie
.mp2 audio/mpeg
.mp2 audio/x-mpeg
.mp2 video/mpeg
.mp2 video/x-mpeg
.mp2 video/x-mpeq2a
.mp3 audio/mpeg3
.mp3 audio/x-mpeg-3
.mp3 video/mpeg
.mp3 video/x-mpeg
.mp4 video/mp4
.mpa audio/mpeg
.mpa video/mpeg
.mpc application/x-project
.mpe video/mpeg
.mpeg video/mpeg
.mpg audio/mpeg
.mpg video/mpeg
.mpga audio/mpeg
.mpp application/vnd.ms-project
.mpt application/x-project
.mpv application/x-project
.mpx application/x-project
.mrc application/marc
.ms application/x-troff-ms
.mv video/x-sgi-movie
.my audio/make
.mzz application/x-vnd.audioexplosion.mzz
.nap image/naplps
.naplps image/naplps
.nc application/x-netcdf
.ncm application/vnd.nokia.configuration-message
.nif image/x-niff
.niff image/x-niff
.nix application/x-mix-transfer
.nsc application/x-conference
.nvd application/x-navidoc
.o application/octet-stream
.oda application/oda
.ogg audio/ogg
.ogg video/ogg
.omc application/x-omc
.omcd application/x-omcdatamaker
.omcr application/x-omcregerator
.otf font/otf
.p text/x-pascal
.p10 application/pkcs10
.p10 application/x-pkcs10
.p12 application/pkcs-12
.p12 application/x-pkcs12
.p7a application/x-pkcs7-signature
.p7c application/pkcs7-mime
.p7c application/x-pkcs7-mime
.p7m application/pkcs7-mime
.p7m application/x-pkcs7-mime
.p7r application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp
.p7s application/pkcs7-signature
.part application/pro_eng
.pas text/pascal
.pbm image/x-portable-bitmap
.pcl application/vnd.hp-pcl
.pcl application/x-pcl
.pct image/x-pict
.pcx image/x-pcx
.pdb chemical/x-pdb
.pdf application/pdf
.pfunk audio/make
.pfunk audio/make.my.funk
.pgm image/x-portable-graymap
.pgm image/x-portable-greymap
.pic image/pict
.pict image/pict
.pkg application/x-newton-compatible-pkg
.pko application/vnd.ms-pki.pko
.pl text/plain
.pl text/x-script.perl
.plx application/x-pixclscript
.pm image/x-xpixmap
.pm text/x-script.perl-module
.pm4 application/x-pagemaker
.pm5 application/x-pagemaker
.png image/png
.pnm application/x-portable-anymap
.pnm image/x-portable-anymap
.pot application/mspowerpoint
.pot application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.pov model/x-pov
.ppa application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.ppm image/x-portable-pixmap
.pps application/mspowerpoint
.pps application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.ppt application/mspowerpoint
.ppt application/powerpoint
.ppt application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.ppt application/x-mspowerpoint
.pptx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation
.ppz application/mspowerpoint
.pre application/x-freelance
.prt application/pro_eng
.ps application/postscript
.psd application/octet-stream
.pvu paleovu/x-pv
.pwz application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.py text/x-script.phyton
.pyc application/x-bytecode.python
.qcp audio/vnd.qcelp
.qd3 x-world/x-3dmf
.qd3d x-world/x-3dmf
.qif image/x-quicktime
.qt video/quicktime
.qtc video/x-qtc
.qti image/x-quicktime
.qtif image/x-quicktime
.ra audio/x-pn-realaudio
.ra audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin
.ra audio/x-realaudio
.ram audio/x-pn-realaudio
.ras application/x-cmu-raster
.ras image/cmu-raster
.ras image/x-cmu-raster
.rast image/cmu-raster
.rar application/vnd.rar
.rexx text/x-script.rexx
.rf image/vnd.rn-realflash
.rgb image/x-rgb
.rm application/vnd.rn-realmedia
.rm audio/x-pn-realaudio
.rmi audio/mid
.rmm audio/x-pn-realaudio
.rmp audio/x-pn-realaudio
.rmp audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin
.rng application/ringing-tones
.rng application/vnd.nokia.ringing-tone
.rnx application/vnd.rn-realplayer
.roff application/x-troff
.rp image/vnd.rn-realpix
.rpm audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin
.rt text/richtext
.rt text/vnd.rn-realtext
.rtf application/rtf
.rtf application/x-rtf
.rtf text/richtext
.rtx application/rtf
.rtx text/richtext
.rv video/vnd.rn-realvideo
.s text/x-asm
.s3m audio/s3m
.saveme application/octet-stream
.sbk application/x-tbook
.scm application/x-lotusscreencam
.scm text/x-script.guile
.scm text/x-script.scheme
.scm video/x-scm
.sdml text/plain
.sdp application/sdp
.sdp application/x-sdp
.sdr application/sounder
.sea application/sea
.sea application/x-sea
.set application/set
.sgm text/sgml
.sgm text/x-sgml
.sgml text/sgml
.sgml text/x-sgml
.sh application/x-bsh
.sh application/x-sh
.sh application/x-shar
.sh text/x-script.sh
.shar application/x-bsh
.shar application/x-shar
.shtml text/html
.shtml text/x-server-parsed-html
.sid audio/x-psid
.sit application/x-sit
.sit application/x-stuffit
.skd application/x-koan
.skm application/x-koan
.skp application/x-koan
.skt application/x-koan
.sl application/x-seelogo
.smi application/smil
.smil application/smil
.snd audio/basic
.snd audio/x-adpcm
.sol application/solids
.spc application/x-pkcs7-certificates
.spc text/x-speech
.spl application/futuresplash
.spr application/x-sprite
.sprite application/x-sprite
.src application/x-wais-source
.ssi text/x-server-parsed-html
.ssm application/streamingmedia
.sst application/vnd.ms-pki.certstore
.step application/step
.stl application/sla
.stl application/vnd.ms-pki.stl
.stl application/x-navistyle
.stp application/step
.sv4cpio application/x-sv4cpio
.sv4crc application/x-sv4crc
.svf image/vnd.dwg
.svf image/x-dwg
.svg image/svg+xml
.svr application/x-world
.svr x-world/x-svr
.swf application/x-shockwave-flash
.t application/x-troff
.talk text/x-speech
.tar application/x-tar
.tbk application/toolbook
.tbk application/x-tbook
.tcl application/x-tcl
.tcl text/x-script.tcl
.tcsh text/x-script.tcsh
.tex application/x-tex
.texi application/x-texinfo
.texinfo application/x-texinfo
.text application/plain
.text text/plain
.tgz application/gnutar
.tgz application/x-compressed
.tif image/tiff
.tif image/x-tiff
.tiff image/tiff
.tiff image/x-tiff
.tr application/x-troff
.ts video/mp2t
.tsi audio/tsp-audio
.tsp application/dsptype
.tsp audio/tsplayer
.tsv text/tab-separated-values
.turbot image/florian
.txt text/plain
.uil text/x-uil
.uni text/uri-list
.unis text/uri-list
.unv application/i-deas
.uri text/uri-list
.uris text/uri-list
.ustar application/x-ustar
.ustar multipart/x-ustar
.uu application/octet-stream
.uu text/x-uuencode
.uue text/x-uuencode
.vcd application/x-cdlink
.vcs text/x-vcalendar
.vda application/vda
.vdo video/vdo
.vew application/groupwise
.viv video/vivo
.viv video/vnd.vivo
.vivo video/vivo
.vivo video/vnd.vivo
.vmd application/vocaltec-media-desc
.vmf application/vocaltec-media-file
.voc audio/voc
.voc audio/x-voc
.vos video/vosaic
.vox audio/voxware
.vqe audio/x-twinvq-plugin
.vqf audio/x-twinvq
.vql audio/x-twinvq-plugin
.vrml application/x-vrml
.vrml model/vrml
.vrml x-world/x-vrml
.vrt x-world/x-vrt
.vsd application/x-visio
.vst application/x-visio
.vsw application/x-visio
.w60 application/wordperfect6.0
.w61 application/wordperfect6.1
.w6w application/msword
.wav audio/wav
.wav audio/x-wav
.wb1 application/x-qpro
.wbmp image/vnd.wap.wbmp
.web application/vnd.xara
.webm video/webm
.webp image/webp
.wiz application/msword
.wk1 application/x-123
.wmf windows/metafile
.wml text/vnd.wap.wml
.wmlc application/vnd.wap.wmlc
.wmls text/vnd.wap.wmlscript
.wmlsc application/vnd.wap.wmlscriptc
.word application/msword
.woff font/woff
.woff2 font/woff2
.wp application/wordperfect
.wp5 application/wordperfect
.wp5 application/wordperfect6.0
.wp6 application/wordperfect
.wpd application/wordperfect
.wpd application/x-wpwin
.wq1 application/x-lotus
.wri application/mswrite
.wri application/x-wri
.wrl application/x-world
.wrl model/vrml
.wrl x-world/x-vrml
.wrz model/vrml
.wrz x-world/x-vrml
.wsc text/scriplet
.wsrc application/x-wais-source
.wtk application/x-wintalk
.xbm image/x-xbitmap
.xbm image/x-xbm
.xbm image/xbm
.xdr video/x-amt-demorun
.xgz xgl/drawing
.xif image/vnd.xiff
.xl application/excel
.xla application/excel
.xla application/x-excel
.xla application/x-msexcel
.xlb application/excel
.xlb application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlb application/x-excel
.xlc application/excel
.xlc application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlc application/x-excel
.xld application/excel
.xld application/x-excel
.xlk application/excel
.xlk application/x-excel
.xll application/excel
.xll application/vnd.ms-excel
.xll application/x-excel
.xlm application/excel
.xlm application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlm application/x-excel
.xls application/excel
.xls application/vnd.ms-excel
.xls application/x-excel
.xls application/x-msexcel
.xlt application/excel
.xlt application/x-excel
.xlv application/excel
.xlv application/x-excel
.xlw application/excel
.xlw application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlw application/x-excel
.xlw application/x-msexcel
.xm audio/xm
.xml application/xml
.xml text/xml
.xmz xgl/movie
.xpix application/x-vnd.ls-xpix
.xpm image/x-xpixmap
.xpm image/xpm
.x-png image/png
.xlsx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
.xsr video/x-amt-showrun
.xwd image/x-xwd
.xwd image/x-xwindowdump
.xyz chemical/x-pdb
.yaml application/x-yaml
.yml application/x-yaml
.z application/x-compress
.z application/x-compressed
.zip application/x-compressed
.zip application/x-zip-compressed
.zip application/zip
.zip multipart/x-zip
.zoo application/octet-stream
.zsh text/x-script.zsh
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MIME Types

What is the Importance of MIME Types in Web Development?

MIME types play a crucial role in web development. They help the browser understand how to handle different types of content. For instance, when a server sends a file to a browser, it also sends the MIME type of that file. The browser then uses this information to decide how to process the file. If the MIME type is “text/html”, the browser knows it’s an HTML file and renders it as a webpage. If the MIME type is “image/jpeg”, the browser displays the file as an image. Without MIME types, the browser would not know how to handle different types of files, leading to a poor user experience.

How Can I Determine the MIME Type of a File?

There are several ways to determine the MIME type of a file. One common method is to use the “file” command in a Unix-like operating system. This command reads the first few bytes of a file to determine its type. Another method is to use a programming language like Python or JavaScript, which have built-in libraries for determining MIME types. Additionally, web servers like Apache and Nginx can be configured to automatically determine the MIME type of files they serve.

Are MIME Types Case-Sensitive?

No, MIME types are not case-sensitive. According to the HTTP/1.1 specification, media type values and subtype values are case-insensitive. However, parameter values, such as “charset=UTF-8”, can be case-sensitive depending on the parameter.

What is the Difference Between “application/octet-stream” and Other MIME Types?

The “application/octet-stream” MIME type is used for binary files that the server doesn’t know how to handle. It essentially tells the browser, “I don’t know what this is, so just download it.” Other MIME types, like “text/html” or “image/jpeg”, tell the browser exactly what type of file it’s dealing with, so the browser can display the file correctly.

Can I Create My Own MIME Types?

Yes, you can create your own MIME types. However, it’s generally not recommended unless you’re creating a new type of content that doesn’t fit into any existing MIME types. If you do create your own MIME type, make sure to follow the naming conventions outlined in the MIME specification.

What is the Difference Between MIME Types and File Extensions?

MIME types and file extensions serve similar purposes, but they are used in different contexts. A file extension is a suffix at the end of a filename that indicates the type of file. A MIME type, on the other hand, is a string that a server sends to a browser to tell it the type of file it’s sending. While file extensions are used by the operating system to determine how to handle a file, MIME types are used by the browser to determine how to handle a file.

How Do I Change the MIME Type of a File?

The MIME type of a file is not stored in the file itself, but is determined by the server when it sends the file to a browser. Therefore, to change the MIME type of a file, you would need to configure your server to send a different MIME type for that file. This can usually be done in the server’s configuration file or .htaccess file.

What Happens If a Server Sends the Wrong MIME Type?

If a server sends the wrong MIME type, the browser may not know how to correctly display the file. For example, if a server sends an HTML file with the MIME type “image/jpeg”, the browser would try to display the file as an image, which would result in an error. Therefore, it’s important for servers to send the correct MIME type for each file.

What is a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME)?

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) is an Internet standard that extends the format of email to support text in character sets other than ASCII, as well as attachments of audio, video, images, and application programs. It’s also used in web technology to specify the content type of web pages and files.

What is the Role of MIME Types in Email?

In email, MIME types are used to specify the type of content that’s being sent. For example, if you’re sending an email with an attached image, the email client would use the MIME type “image/jpeg” to tell the recipient’s email client that it’s an image file. The recipient’s email client would then use this information to correctly display the image. Without MIME types, email clients would not know how to handle different types of content.

Dianne PenaDianne Pena
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Dianne is SitePoint's newsletter editor. She especiallly loves learning about JavaScript, CSS and frontend technologies.

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