“MIME type” is the common name for a media type: a label such as text/html or image/png that tells software what a representation contains and how it should be processed. The IANA Media Types registry is the authoritative, continuously changing source. It was last updated on September 24, 2026; use it to verify any value before deploying configuration.
This reference groups frequently used values under IANA’s top-level directories and alphabetizes the subtype names within each group. It is a practical selection, not a frozen replacement for the live registry.
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How media types are written
RFC 6838 defines a media type as a top-level type and subtype, optionally followed by parameters:
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For example, text/plain; charset=UTF-8 has text/plain as its base media type and charset=UTF-8 as a parameter. Parameters are not part of the subtype name.
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IANA’s top-level directories are application, audio, example, font, haptics, image, message, model, multipart, text and video. The example directory is reserved for examples and has no registrations.
Application types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
application/epub+zip |
EPUB publication package | .epub |
IANA registry entry |
application/gzip |
Gzip-compressed data | .gz |
IANA registry entry |
application/java-archive |
Java archive | .jar |
IANA registry entry |
application/javascript |
JavaScript (legacy registration commonly encountered) | .js |
Check the current IANA entry and deployment guidance |
application/json |
JSON data | .json |
IANA registry entry |
application/pdf |
PDF document | .pdf |
IANA registry entry |
application/vnd.rar |
RAR archive | .rar |
Vendor tree |
application/wasm |
WebAssembly module | .wasm |
IANA registry entry |
application/x-7z-compressed |
7-Zip archive | .7z |
Unregistered or legacy x- convention; verify before use |
application/zip |
ZIP archive | .zip |
IANA registry entry |
Audio types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
audio/aac |
Advanced Audio Coding stream | .aac |
IANA registry entry |
audio/flac |
Free Lossless Audio Codec | .flac |
IANA registry entry |
audio/mpeg |
MPEG audio, including MP3 | .mp3 |
IANA registry entry |
audio/ogg |
Ogg audio container | .oga, .ogg |
IANA registry entry |
audio/wav |
WAVE audio | .wav |
Verify the current registry spelling |
Font types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
font/otf |
OpenType font | .otf |
IANA registry entry |
font/ttf |
TrueType font | .ttf |
IANA registry entry |
font/woff |
Web Open Font Format 1 | .woff |
IANA registry entry |
font/woff2 |
Web Open Font Format 2 | .woff2 |
IANA registry entry |
Image types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
image/avif |
AV1 Image File Format | .avif |
IANA registry entry |
image/gif |
GIF image | .gif |
IANA registry entry |
image/jpeg |
JPEG image | .jpg, .jpeg |
IANA registry entry |
image/png |
PNG image | .png |
IANA registry entry |
image/svg+xml |
Scalable Vector Graphics | .svg |
IANA registry entry |
image/tiff |
TIFF image | .tif, .tiff |
IANA registry entry |
image/webp |
WebP image | .webp |
IANA registry entry |
Message, model and multipart types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
message/http |
HTTP message representation | None normally used | IANA registry entry |
message/rfc822 |
RFC 822-style email message | .eml |
IANA registry entry |
model/gltf+json |
glTF 3D model in JSON form | .gltf |
IANA registry entry |
model/gltf-binary |
Binary glTF 3D model | .glb |
IANA registry entry |
multipart/form-data |
HTML form submissions, including file uploads | None | IANA registry entry; boundary parameter is required in HTTP use |
multipart/mixed |
Multiple parts in one message | None | IANA registry entry; boundary parameter is required |
Text types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
text/calendar |
iCalendar data | .ics |
IANA registry entry |
text/css |
Cascading Style Sheets | .css |
IANA registry entry |
text/csv |
Comma-separated values | .csv |
IANA registry entry |
text/event-stream |
Server-Sent Events stream | None | IANA registry entry |
text/html |
HTML document | .html, .htm |
IANA registry entry |
text/javascript |
JavaScript source | .js |
IANA registry entry |
text/markdown |
Markdown text | .md |
Check current registry status |
text/plain |
Unformatted text | .txt |
IANA registry entry |
text/xml |
XML text | .xml |
IANA registry entry |
Video types
| Media type | Purpose or format | Common extension | Registration note |
|---|---|---|---|
video/mp4 |
MPEG-4 video container | .mp4 |
IANA registry entry |
video/mpeg |
MPEG video | .mpeg, .mpg |
IANA registry entry |
video/ogg |
Ogg video | .ogv |
IANA registry entry |
video/webm |
WebM video | .webm |
IANA registry entry |
Choosing a Content-Type header
Send the media type that describes the actual representation, not merely the filename extension. Browsers use the HTTP Content-Type value when deciding how to process a resource, so a wrong header can cause a document to be displayed incorrectly, downloaded unexpectedly or handled as an unsafe type.
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- Identify the bytes and intended representation.
- Find the exact registered media type in the current IANA directory.
- Add only parameters required by that format or protocol, such as
charset=UTF-8for suitable text. - Configure your web server, application or CDN to emit that value and verify the response headers.
When no specific type is known
- Use
text/plainfor unknown textual data. - Use
application/octet-streamfor unknown binary data until a more specific type is established.
Extensions are clues, not proof
A filename suffix does not determine the content. The same extension can be used in different contexts, and a file can be renamed without changing its bytes. Inspect the representation and select the type that matches its semantics and intended processing. Do not invent a new subtype just because an extension is uncommon.
Registration trees and status
IANA entries identify the applicable registration tree or status. Standards-tree values are defined through standards procedures; vendor and personal trees identify narrower, private uses; provisional, deprecated or obsolete entries require particular care. RFC 6838 and the registry’s instructions describe how new registrations are reviewed. A private x- label is not automatically interoperable or an official IANA registration.
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Keeping this list current
Because registrations and status can change, treat this page as a quick reference and check the live IANA Media Types registry for the spelling, parameters, references and current status of any value you publish. The registry’s last stated update for this reference is September 24, 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MIME type for a file?
Choose the registered media type that describes the file’s actual representation. For common cases, HTML is text/html, CSS is text/css, JSON is application/json, PDF is application/pdf, PNG is image/png and MP4 is video/mp4. Verify the exact value in the current IANA registry.
Should I include a charset parameter?
A parameter is separate from the base type. Use one only when the format or protocol calls for it; for suitable UTF-8 text, a header such as text/plain; charset=UTF-8 is explicit.
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IANA maintains the canonical Media Types registry. New registrations follow the procedures documented by IANA and RFC 6838 rather than ad-hoc naming.
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