MIME Types
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a standard for describing the content type of messages, used to represent 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. Therefore, it is very important that the web server adds the correct MIME type in the response header. If configured incorrectly, the browser may fail to parse file contents, the website may not work properly, and downloaded files may also be mishandled.
Syntax
General structure of MIME types:
type/subtype
The structure of MIME is very simple: a type and a subtype string are separated by a/slash, and no spaces are allowed. The type represents an independent category that can be divided into multiple subtypes, and the subtype represents each type after further division.
MIME types are case-insensitive, but conventionally they are written in lowercase.
Two primary MIME types play an important role in the default types:
- text/plainRepresents the default value for text files.
- application/octet-streamRepresents the default value for all other cases.
Common MIME Types
-
Hypertext Markup Language text.html、.html：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 filemid、.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 | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
text |
Indicates that the file is plain text and theoretically human-readable | text/plain, text/html, text/css, text/javascript |
image |
Indicates some kind of image. Does not include video, but animated images (such as animated GIF) also use the image type | image/gif, image/png, image/jpeg, image/bmp, image/webp, image/x-icon, image/vnd.microsoft.icon |
audio |
Indicates some kind of audio file | audio/midi, audio/mpeg, audio/webm, audio/ogg, audio/wav |
video |
Indicates some kind of video file | video/webm, video/ogg |
application |
Indicates some kind of binary data |
|
MIME Reference 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 presentation 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 is the abbreviation of Portable Document Format, i.e., portable document format | |
| application/rtf | rtf | RTF refers to Rich Text Format, which is commonly known 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, commonly 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 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 | Represents JavaScript script file |
| text/css | css | Represents 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 platform 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 video format based on Flash technology |
List of MIME Types Arranged by Content Type
| Type/Subtype | Extension |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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
| Extension | Type/Subtype |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |