MIME Type Reference

A MIME type (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions), also known as a media type or content type, is a standard identifier used to indicate the nature and format of a file. MIME types are essential in HTTP headers, email attachments, and file handling across the web.

MIME Type Structure

Every MIME type follows the format type/subtype. The type represents the general category (e.g., text, image, application), while the subtype identifies the specific format (e.g., html, png, json).

Common Categories

• application — Binary data and application-specific formats (PDF, JSON, ZIP)
• audio — Audio files (MP3, WAV, OGG)
• font — Font files (WOFF, WOFF2, TTF)
• image — Image files (PNG, JPEG, SVG, WebP)
• text — Human-readable text (HTML, CSS, CSV, plain text)
• video — Video files (MP4, WebM, AVI)

Common Uses

• Setting Content-Type HTTP headers for web servers
• Configuring file upload validation in web applications
• Identifying file formats in email attachments
• Mapping file extensions to content types in server configuration
• Building file type filters for drag-and-drop interfaces