MIME Types
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a standard for describing the content type of messages, used to indicate the nature and format of documents, files, or byte streams.
MIME messages can contain text, images, audio, video, and other application-specific data.
Browsers typically use MIME types (rather than file extensions) to determine how to handle URLs, so it is crucial for web servers to include the correct MIME type in the response header. Incorrect configuration may cause browsers to fail to parse file contents, resulting in malfunctioning websites and improperly handled downloaded files.
Syntax
General structure of MIME types:
type/subtype
The structure of MIME types is straightforward, consisting of a type and a subtype separated by a / with no spaces allowed. The type represents a general category that can be divided into subcategories, while the subtype represents each specific type.
MIME types are case-insensitive, but traditionally they are written in lowercase.
Two main MIME types play significant roles in default types:
text/plainrepresents the default for text files.application/octet-streamrepresents the default for all other cases.
Common MIME Types
- Hypertext Markup Language text .html, .htm:
text/html - Plain text .txt:
text/plain - RTF text .rtf:
application/rtf - GIF graphics .gif:
image/gif - JPEG graphics .jpeg, .jpg:
image/jpeg - au sound file .au:
audio/basic - MIDI music file .mid, .midi:
audio/midi, audio/x-midi - RealAudio music file .ra, .ram:
audio/x-pn-realaudio - MPEG file .mpg, .mpeg:
video/mpeg - AVI file .avi:
video/x-msvideo - GZIP file .gz:
application/x-gzip - TAR file .tar:
application/x-tar
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| text | Indicates the file is plain text, theoretically human-readable | text/plain, text/html, text/css, text/javascript |
| image | Indicates an image file. This does not include video, but animated images (like animated GIFs) use the image type | image/gif, image/png, image/jpeg, image/bmp, image/webp, image/x-icon, image/vnd.microsoft.icon |
| audio | Indicates an audio file | audio/midi, audio/mpeg, audio/webm, audio/ogg, audio/wav |
| video | Indicates a video file | video/webm, video/ogg |
| application | Indicates binary data | application/octet-stream, application/pkcs12, application/vnd.mspowerpoint, application/xhtml+xml, application/xml, application/pdf |
MIME Types Table
| Media Type | File Extension | Description |
|---|---|---|
| application/msword | doc | Microsoft Office Word format (Microsoft Word 97 - 2004 document) |
| application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document | docx | Microsoft Office Word document format |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xls | Microsoft Office Excel format (Microsoft Excel 97 - 2004 Workbook) |
| application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet | xlsx | Microsoft Office Excel document format |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | ppt | Microsoft Office PowerPoint format (Microsoft PowerPoint 97 - 2003 presentation) |
| application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation | pptx | Microsoft Office PowerPoint document format |
| application/x-gzip | gz, gzip | GZ compressed file format |
| application/zip | zip, 7zip | ZIP compressed file format |
| application/rar | rar | RAR compressed file format |
| application/x-tar | tar, tgz | TAR compressed file format |
| application/pdf | PDF, which stands for Portable Document Format, a portable document format | |
| application/rtf | rtf | RTF, which stands for Rich Text Format, commonly referred to as rich text format |
| image/gif | gif | GIF image format |
| image/jpeg | jpg, jpeg | JPG(JPEG) image format |
| image/jp2 | jpg2 | JPG2 image format |
| image/png | png | PNG image format |
| image/tiff | tif, tiff | TIF(TIFF) image format |
| image/bmp | bmp | BMP image format (bitmap format) |
| image/svg+xml | svg, svgz | SVG image format |
| image/webp | webp | WebP image format |
| image/x-icon | ico | ICO image format, typically used for browser Favicon icons |
| application/kswps | wps | Kingsoft Office word processing file format |
| application/kset | et | Kingsoft Office spreadsheet file format |
| application/ksdps | dps | Kingsoft Office presentation file format |
| application/x-photoshop | psd | Photoshop source file format |
| application/x-coreldraw | cdr | Coreldraw source file format |
| application/x-shockwave-flash | swf | Adobe Flash source file format |
| text/plain | txt | Plain text format |
| application/x-javascript | js | Javascript file type |
| text/javascript | js | Indicates a Javascript script file |
| text/css | css | Indicates a CSS stylesheet |
| text/html | htm, html, shtml | HTML file format |
| application/xhtml+xml | xht, xhtml | XHTML file format |
| text/xml | xml | XML file format |
| text/x-vcard | vcf | VCF file format |
| application/x-httpd-php | php, php3, php4, phtml | PHP file format |
| application/java-archive | jar | Java archive file format |
| application/vnd.android.package-archive | apk | Android package file format |
| application/octet-stream | exe | Windows system executable file format |
| application/x-x509-user-cert | crt, pem | PEM file format |
| audio/mpeg | mp3 | MPEG audio format |
| audio/midi | mid, midi | MID audio format |
| audio/x-wav | wav | WAV audio format |
| audio/x-mpegurl | m3u | M3U audio format |
| audio/x-m4a | m4a | M4A audio format |
| audio/ogg | ogg | OGG audio format |
| audio/x-realaudio | ra | Real Audio audio format |
| video/mp4 | mp4 | MP4 video format |
| video/mpeg | mpg, mpe, mpeg | MPEG video format |
| video/quicktime | qt, mov | QuickTime video format |
| video/x-m4v | m4v | m4v video format |
| video/x-ms-wmv | wmv | WMV video format (a video format on Windows operating systems) |
| video/x-msvideo | avi | AVI video format |
| video/webm | webm | WebM video format |
| video/x-flv | flv | A flash technology-based video format |
MIME Types Listed by Content Type
| Type/Subtype | Extensions |
|---|---|
| application/envoy | evy |
| application/fractals | fif |
| application/futuresplash | spl |
| application/hta | hta |
| application/internet-property-stream | acx |
| application/mac-binhex40 | hqx |
| application/msword | doc |
| application/msword | dot |
| application/octet-stream | * |
| application/octet-stream | bin |
| application/octet-stream | class |
| application/octet-stream | dms |
| application/octet-stream | exe |
| application/octet-stream | lha |
| application/octet-stream | lzh |
| application/oda | oda |
| application/olescript | axs |
| application/pdf | |
| application/pics-rules | prf |
| application/pkcs10 | p10 |
| application/pkix-crl | crl |
| application/postscript | ai |
| application/postscript | eps |
| application/postscript | ps |
| application/rtf | rtf |
| application/set-payment-initiation | setpay |
| application/set-registration-initiation | setreg |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xla |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlc |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlm |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xls |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlt |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlw |
| application/vnd.ms-outlook | msg |
| application/vnd.ms-pkicertstore | sst |
| application/vnd.ms-pkiseccat | cat |
| application/vnd.ms-pkistl | stl |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | pot |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | pps |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | ppt |
| application/vnd.ms-project | mpp |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wcm |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wdb |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wks |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wps |
| application/winhlp | hlp |
| application/x-bcpio | bcpio |
| application/x-cdf | cdf |
| application/x-compress | z |
| application/x-compressed | tgz |
| application/x-cpio | cpio |
| application/x-csh | csh |
| application/x-director | dcr |
| application/x-director | dir |
| application/x-director | dxr |
| application/x-dvi | dvi |
| application/x-gtar | gtar |
| application/x-gzip | gz |
| application/x-hdf | hdf |
| application/x-internet-signup | ins |
| application/x-internet-signup | isp |
| application/x-iphone | iii |
| application/x-javascript | js |
| application/x-latex | latex |
| application/x-msaccess | mdb |
| application/x-mscardfile | crd |
| application/x-msclip | clp |
| application/x-msdownload | dll |
| application/x-msmediaview | m13 |
| application/x-msmediaview | m14 |
| application/x-msmediaview | mvb |
| application/x-msmetafile | wmf |
| application/x-msmoney | mny |
| application/x-mspublisher | pub |
| application/x-msschedule | scd |
| application/x-msterminal | trm |
| application/x-mswrite | wri |
| application/x-netcdf | cdf |
| application/x-netcdf | nc |
| application/x-perfmon | pma |
| application/x-perfmon | pmc |
| application/x-perfmon | pml |
| application/x-perfmon | pmr |
| application/x-perfmon | pmw |
| application/x-pkcs12 | p12 |
| application/x-pkcs12 | pfx |
| application/x-pkcs7-certificates | p7b |
| application/x-pkcs7-certificates | spc |
| application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp | p7r |
| application/x-pkcs7-mime | p7c |
| application/x-pkcs7-mime | p7m |
| application/x-pkcs7-signature | p7s |
| application/x-sh | sh |
| application/x-shar | shar |
| application/x-shockwave-flash | swf |
| application/x-stuffit | sit |
| application/x-sv4cpio | sv4cpio |
| application/x-sv4crc | sv4crc |
| application/x-tar | tar |
| application/x-tcl | tcl |
| application/x-tex | tex |
| application/x-texinfo | texi |
| application/x-texinfo | texinfo |
| application/x-troff | roff |
| application/x-troff | t |
| application/x-troff | tr |
| application/x-troff-man | man |
| application/x-troff-me | me |
| application/x-troff-ms | ms |
| application/x-ustar | ustar |
| MIME Type | Extension |
| --- | --- |
| application/x-wais-source | src |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | cer |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | crt |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | der |
| application/ynd.ms-pkipko | pko |
| application/zip | zip |
| audio/basic | au |
| audio/basic | snd |
| audio/mid | mid |
| audio/mid | rmi |
| audio/mpeg | mp3 |
| audio/x-aiff | aif |
| audio/x-aiff | aifc |
| audio/x-aiff | aiff |
| audio/x-mpegurl | m3u |
| audio/x-pn-realaudio | ra |
| audio/x-pn-realaudio | ram |
| audio/x-wav | wav |
| image/bmp | bmp |
| image/cis-cod | cod |
| image/gif | gif |
| image/ief | ief |
| image/jpeg | jpe |
| image/jpeg | jpeg |
| image/jpeg | jpg |
| image/pipeg | jfif |
| image/svg+xml | svg |
| image/tiff | tif |
| image/tiff | tiff |
| image/x-cmu-raster | ras |
| image/x-cmx | cmx |
| image/x-icon | ico |
| image/x-portable-anymap | pnm |
| image/x-portable-bitmap | pbm |
| image/x-portable-graymap | pgm |
| image/x-portable-pixmap | ppm |
| image/x-rgb | rgb |
| image/x-xbitmap | xbm |
| image/x-xpixmap | xpm |
| image/x-xwindowdump | xwd |
| message/rfc822 | mht |
| message/rfc822 | mhtml |
| message/rfc822 | nws |
| text/css | css |
| text/h323 | 323 |
| text/html | htm |
| text/html | html |
| text/html | stm |
| text/iuls | uls |
| text/plain | bas |
| text/plain | c |
| text/plain | h |
| text/plain | txt |
| text/richtext | rtx |
| text/scriptlet | sct |
| text/tab-separated-values | tsv |
| text/webviewhtml | htt |
| text/x-component | htc |
| text/x-setext | etx |
| text/x-vcard | vcf |
| video/mpeg | mp2 |
| video/mpeg | mpa |
| video/mpeg | mpe |
| video/mpeg | mpeg |
| video/mpeg | mpg |
| video/mpeg | mpv2 |
| video/quicktime | mov |
| video/quicktime | qt |
| video/x-la-asf | lsf |
| video/x-la-asf | lsx |
| video/x-ms-asf | asf |
| video/x-ms-asf | asr |
| video/x-ms-asf | asx |
| video/x-msvideo | avi |
| video/x-sgi-movie | movie |
| x-world/x-vrml | flr |
| x-world/x-vrml | vrml |
| x-world/x-vrml | wrl |
| x-world/x-vrml | wrz |
| x-world/x-vrml | xaf |
| x-world/x-vrml | xof |
List of MIME Types Arranged by File Extension
| application/octet-stream | | 323 | text/h323 | | acx | application/internet-property-stream | | ai | application/postscript | | aif | audio/x-aiff | | aifc | audio/x-aiff | | aiff | audio/x-aiff | | asf | video/x-ms-asf | | asr | video/x-ms-asf | | asx | video/x-ms-asf | | au | audio/basic | | avi | video/x-msvideo | | axs | application/olescript | | bas | text/plain | | bcpio | application/x-bcpio | | bin | application/octet-stream | | bmp | image/bmp | | c | text/plain | | cat | application/vnd.ms-pkiseccat | | cdf | application/x-cdf | | cer | application/x-x509-ca-cert | | class | application/octet-stream | | clp | application/x-msclip | | cmx | image/x-cmx | | cod | image/cis-cod | | cpio | application/x-cpio | | crd | application/x-mscardfile | | crl | application/pkix-crl | | crt | application/x-x509-ca-cert | | csh | application/x-csh | | css | text/css | | dcr | application/x-director | | der | application/x-x509-ca-cert | | dir | application/x-director | | dll | application/x-msdownload | | dms | application/octet-stream | | doc | application/msword | | dot | application/msword | | dvi | application/x-dvi | | dxr | application/x-director | | eps | application/postscript | | etx | text/x-setext | | evy | application/envoy | | exe | application/octet-stream | | fif | application/fractals | | flr | x-world/x-vrml | | gif | image/gif | | gtar | application/x-gtar | | gz | application/x-gzip | | h | text/plain | | hdf | application/x-hdf | | hlp | application/winhlp | | hqx | application/mac-binhex40 | | hta | application/hta | | htc | text/x-component | | htm | text/html | | html | text/html | | htt | text/webviewhtml | | ico | image/x-icon | | ief | image/ief | | iii | application/x-iphone | | ins | application/x-internet-signup | | isp | application/x-internet-signup | | jfif | image/pipeg | | jpe | image/jpeg | | jpeg | image/jpeg | | jpg | image/jpeg | | js | application/x-javascript | | latex | application/x-latex | | lha | application/octet-stream | | lsf | video/x-la-asf | | lsx | video/x-la-asf | | lzh | application/octet-stream | | m13 | application/x-msmediaview | | m14 | application/x-msmediaview | | m3u | audio/x-mpegurl | | man | application/x-troff-man | | mdb | application/x-msaccess | | me | application/x-troff-me | | mht | message/rfc822 | | mhtml | message/rfc822 | | mid | audio/mid | | mny | application/x-msmoney | | mov | video/quicktime | | movie | video/x-sgi-movie | | mp2 | video/mpeg | | mp3 | audio/mpeg | | mpa | video/mpeg | | mpe | video/mpeg | | mpeg | video/mpeg | | mpg | video/mpeg | | mpp | application/vnd.ms-project | | mpv2 | video/mpeg | | ms | application/x-troff-ms | | mvb | application/x-msmediaview | | nws | message/rfc822 | | oda | application/oda | | p10 | application/pkcs10 | | p12 | application/x-pkcs12 | | p7b | application/x-pkcs7-certificates | | p7c | application/x-pkcs7-mime | | p7m | application/x-pkcs7-mime | | p7r | application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp | | p7s | application/x-pkcs7-signature | | pbm | image/x-portable-bitmap | | pdf | application/pdf | | pfx | application/x-pkcs12 | | pgm | image/x-portable-graymap | | pko | application/ynd.ms-pkipko | | pma | application/x-perfmon | | pmc | application/x-perfmon | | pml | application/x-perfmon | | pmr | application/x-perfmon | | pmw | application/x-perfmon | | pnm | image/x-portable-anymap | | pot, | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | | ppm | image/x-portable-pixmap | | pps | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | | ppt | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | | prf | application/pics-rules | | ps | application/postscript | | pub | application/x-mspublisher | | qt | video/quicktime | | ra | audio/x-pn-realaudio | | ram | audio/x-pn-realaudio | | ras | image/x-cmu-raster | | rgb | image/x-rgb | | rmi | audio/mid | | roff | application/x-troff | | rtf | application/rtf | | rtx | text/richtext | | scd | application/x-msschedule | | sct | text/scriptlet | | setpay | application/set-payment-initiation | | setreg | application/set-registration-initiation | | sh | application/x-sh | | shar | application/x-shar | | sit | application/x-stuffit | | snd | audio/basic | | spc | application/x-pkcs7-certificates | | spl | application/futuresplash | | src | application/x-wais-source | | sst | application/vnd.ms-pkicertstore | | stl | application/vnd.ms-pkistl | | stm | text/html | | svg | image/svg+xml | | sv4cpio | application/x-sv4cpio | | sv4crc | application/x-sv4crc | | swf | application/x-shockwave-flash | | t | application/x-troff | | tar | application/x-tar | | tcl | application/x-tcl | | tex | application/x-tex | | texi | application/x-texinfo | | texinfo | application/x-texinfo | | tgz | application/x-compressed | | tif | image/tiff | | tiff | image/tiff | | tr | application/x-troff | | trm | application/x-msterminal | | tsv | text/tab-separated-values | | txt | text/plain | | uls | text/iuls | | ustar | application/x-ustar | | vcf | text/x-vcard | | vrml | x-world/x-vrml | | wav | audio/x-wav | | wcm | application/vnd.ms-works | | wdb | application/vnd.ms-works | | wks | application/vnd.ms-works | | wmf | application/x-msmetafile | | wps | application/vnd.ms-works | | wri | application/x-mswrite | | wrl | x-world/x-vrml | | wrz | x-world/x-vrml | | xaf | x-world/x-vrml | | xbm | image/x-xbitmap | | xla | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xlc | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xlm | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xls | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xlt | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xlw | application/vnd.ms-excel | | xof | x-world/x-vrml | | xpm | image/x-xpixmap | | xwd | image/x-xwindowdump | | z | application/x-compress | | zip | application/zip |