MIME types: description and list of basic

Initially, MIME types were designed for the ability to transfer data other than text. Actually it was for e-mail. For example, in order to transmit a picture, a MIME type was used through its protocol, indicating that, for example, a JPEG file is being transmitted.

The development of technology and its emergence

MIME types are actively used for data transfer in the HTTP protocol. In simple terms, it describes the additional attributes of the forwarded package and supports the ability to implement the transfer of multiple files, even nested within one message. In order to inform the recipient of what type of file is being transmitted, and, accordingly, how to work with it, the header of the file adds its MIME type. For example, plain text is labeled text / plain, and electronic pages are text / html.

Why do I need to know about MIME?

About how MIME types are designed and what types of information are needed, it is necessary to know the web developers and programmers whose job it is to create products that somehow work with the Network. Describe the interaction better on an example close to reality.

The web programmer writes the code for one of the pages of the site. It allows you to download a PDF file. In the code, it specifies a MIME for this type of data: application / pdf. The browser, referring to this page, reads the title and understands that this is a PDF file. And depending on the settings either immediately starts downloading it, or just opens it for viewing in the window. Thus, the separation of content into types allows the client to adequately respond to incoming data types in an appropriate way.

List of MIME types

The number of file types listed in the MIME standard is large. For convenience, they are all divided into categories. It is worthwhile to consider the main ones and describe the types, as well as how the browser will react to them.

Category text

There are types in it, which, in one way or another, are associated with the transmission of textual information. This can include scripts, style sheets, plain text. The category includes:

• Html. Hypertext markup language. No site on the Internet can work without its use.
• Css. Cascading style sheets. The design and interaction of objects on the page is carried out with the help of such files.
• Javascript. Having seen this type, the browser will immediately understand that it needs to process a piece of code - a script.
• Plain. Simple plain text.
• Xml. XML markup files.

Category image

Here, extensions of the transferred files are sent, for example:

• Gif;
• Jpeg;
• Tiff.

Category application

It contains the types that you can start, one way or another, that is, the data of some applications or services. The reaction of the browser to some of them may be a request to launch a special program or opening it directly on the page.

• Json. Convenient data transfer format. Tells the browser that the response will be sent to json.
• Pdf. Depending on the browser settings, this type can be downloaded, viewed in the window or use a third-party program installed on the computer.
• Zip and gzip. Transfer of archive files.
• Ogg. Designation for multimedia content.
• Xhtml + xml. The XHTML data transfer format, which complements and enhances the functionality of classic HTML, and also brings the effectiveness of XML to the standard.

Category audio

By analogy with graphic files in this category, the extensions are mainly distributed:

• Basic. The standard type of sound file.
• Aac. The format of the audio file.
• Mpeg. Here mp3 or mpeg can be transmitted.
• X-ms-wma or x-ms-wax. Windows Media Audio data type.
• Webm. A fairly young video format developed by Google. Already supported by many browsers and media players.

X

X-types belong to the category application. Using them, the non-standard file types are indicated. These include, for example, archives tar, RAR, FLASH and many others not included in the main list.

Conclusion

The list of MIME type is constantly expanding in connection with the emergence of new technologies, standards and file types. You can view the current list in the latest RFC document updates regarding MIME types.