Definition
What is MIME type (media type)?
Also known as: content type, media type.
Last updated: July 2026
- MIME type (media type)
- A MIME type (also called a media type or content type) is a two-part label like text/html or image/png that tells software what kind of data a file or response contains. The part before the slash is the type (text, image, application); the part after is the subtype. Browsers use it to decide how to handle content.
MIME Type Lookup
Open the tool →Find the MIME type for any file extension, or the extensions for a MIME type. Free, instant, searchable reference.
How it's structured
The format is type/subtype, optionally with parameters — e.g. text/html; charset=utf-8. Common examples: application/json, image/jpeg, application/pdf, text/csv. The IANA maintains the official registry of media types.
Why it matters
Servers send a Content-Type header so the browser renders HTML, displays an image, or downloads a file correctly. A wrong MIME type causes bugs — code shown as plain text, downloads that won't open, or images that don't display.
FAQ
What's the MIME type for JSON?
application/json.
Is content type the same as MIME type?
Yes — 'content type' (from the HTTP header) and 'media type' are other names for the same label.