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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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/htmlto be displayed as a webpage ortext/plainto show the source code. - 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 |
| 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 is SitePoint's newsletter editor. She especiallly loves learning about JavaScript, CSS and frontend technologies.
