MIME Type Lookup
Look up the registered IANA MIME type for any file extension - from common formats like PDF, JPEG, and MP4 to specialized formats like OpenEXR, WOFF2, and COLLADA. Search by extension, MIME type, format name, or application. Browse by category to explore all 200+ formats in the database. All data is bundled in your browser - no API calls, no server uploads, no signup required.
Search by file extension, MIME type, file format name, or associated application. Browse by category to explore all registered MIME types.
Quick Reference - Common Extensions
Why Use Our MIME Type Lookup Tool?
Instant MIME Type Lookup by Extension or Name
Search by file extension, MIME type, format name, or associated application and get instant results. Our MIME type lookup tool searches a comprehensive database of 200+ file formats and their registered IANA MIME types - including images, audio, video, documents, archives, fonts, 3D models, source code, and more.
Browse by Category with Visual Organization
Explore MIME types organized into 9 categories - Image, Audio, Video, Text/Code, Application, Font, Message, 3D Model, and Multipart. Each category is color-coded and displays the number of available formats, making it easy to discover all file types in a group.
Fast, Offline-Ready with No API Calls
The entire MIME type database is embedded directly in your browser - no external API calls, no network requests, no loading spinners. Results appear instantly as you type, and the tool works completely offline after the initial page load.
100% Free Browser-Based Processing
All MIME type lookups run entirely in your browser with zero server uploads. Your search queries never leave your device. No signup, no API keys, no usage limits - completely free for unlimited lookups.
Common Use Cases for MIME Type Lookup
Web Server & CDN Configuration
System administrators use the MIME type lookup tool to find the correct MIME types when configuring web servers (Apache, Nginx, Caddy), CDN platforms (Cloudflare, Fastly, Akamai), and file upload handlers. Setting the right MIME type ensures browsers render files correctly rather than prompting downloads.
Web Development & API Building
Web developers use MIME type lookup to set correct Content-Type headers in API responses, configure proper media type handling in form uploads, and ensure file downloads have the appropriate MIME type. Incorrect MIME types are a common source of CORS errors and browser rendering issues.
Email Attachment Troubleshooting
IT support professionals and email administrators use the MIME type lookup to diagnose email attachment problems. Many email servers reject or strip attachments with incorrect or missing MIME types, and understanding the correct MIME type helps configure email security filters.
File Upload Security Validation
Security engineers use MIME type lookup to build robust file upload validation systems. By understanding the correct MIME types for allowed file formats, they can implement server-side MIME type checks that prevent attackers from uploading files disguised with wrong extensions.
Forensic File Analysis & Identification
Digital forensics analysts use the MIME type lookup tool as a quick reference when examining unknown files. Cross-referencing a file's extension with its expected MIME type helps identify renamed files, detect disguised content, and understand what applications can open suspicious files.
Learning & Reference for Developers
Students and developers learning about HTTP, web technologies, and file formats use the MIME type lookup as a comprehensive reference. The tool provides detailed information about each format - including IANA registration, common usage, and associated applications - all in one place.
Understanding MIME Types
What Is a MIME Type?
A MIME type (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions type) is a standard label that identifies the format of a file or data stream. MIME types follow a type/subtype format - for example, image/jpeg,application/pdf, or video/mp4. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) maintains the official registry of all registered MIME types. Originally created for email attachments (hence the name), MIME types are now used everywhere on the web - in HTTP Content-Type headers, HTML form uploads, API responses, and browser file handling.
How Our MIME Type Lookup Tool Works
- Search or Browse: Type a file extension (e.g.,
.pdf,.jpg), MIME type (application/json), or format name - or browse by category using the color-coded category pills. - View Complete Results: Each result shows the registered MIME type, alternative types (if any), a human-readable description, the format category, and a list of associated applications that can open the format.
- Copy or Explore: Click the copy button next to any MIME type to copy it to your clipboard. Browse related formats in the same category or search for additional file types.
Why MIME Types Matter for Web Development
- Correct Content-Type headers: Servers must send the correct
Content-Typeheader for every file. Wrong MIME types cause browsers to misinterpret file formats, leading to download prompts, blank pages, or security warnings. - File upload validation: Web applications that accept file uploads should validate the MIME type server-side to prevent users from uploading dangerous file types disguised with a safe extension.
- Email attachment handling: Email servers use MIME types to determine how to process attachments. Incorrect MIME types can cause attachments to be blocked, stripped, or displayed incorrectly.
- Security & browser sniffing: The
X-Content-Type-Options: nosniffheader tells browsers to trust the declared MIME type and not perform MIME sniffing - a recommended security practice that relies on correct MIME type configuration.
Comprehensive Local Database - No External Dependencies
Our MIME type lookup tool contains a fully embedded database of over 200+ file format entries, organized into 9 categories. Each entry includes the IANA-registered MIME type, a detailed description, the format category, and associated applications. The entire database is shipped as static JavaScript - no API calls, no network requests, and no third-party dependencies. This means instant results, full offline capability, and complete privacy for all lookups. The database covers everything from common formats like JPEG, PDF, and MP4 to specialized formats like OpenEXR, WOFF2, and COLLADA.
Related File Analysis Tools
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File Extension Lookup
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Frequently Asked Questions About MIME Type Lookup
A MIME type (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions type) is a two-part identifier - like application/pdf or image/jpeg - that tells software what kind of file or data it's dealing with. The first part (the type) describes the general category (text, image, audio, video, application, etc.), and the second part (the subtype) specifies the exact format. MIME types are the standard way the internet identifies file formats and are maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
Enter the file extension (with or without the dot, like "pdf" or ".jpg") into the search field, and our MIME type lookup tool will instantly display the registered IANA MIME type, a description, the format category, and a list of associated applications. You can also search by MIME type name, format description, or application name for flexible lookup options.
Yes. Our MIME type lookup tool is 100% free with no signup, no API keys, no usage limits, and no ads. You can look up as many MIME types as you need without any restrictions. The entire database is embedded in your browser, so there are no server costs or API rate limits.
The database contains over 200+ file format entries across 9 categories: Image, Audio, Video, Text/Code, Application, Font, Message, 3D Model, and Multipart. Each entry includes the IANA-registered MIME type, alternative types, a human-readable description, format category, and associated applications.
Yes. After the initial page load, the entire MIME type database is available in your browser with zero network dependencies. No API calls, no external services - the tool works completely offline for all searches and browsing.
A file extension is a suffix (like .pdf, .jpg) appended to a filename as a convention - anyone can rename a file to change its extension. A MIME type is a standardized identifier that file format scanners read from the actual file content (magic bytes). The same file format can have different extensions in some cases, and one extension can be associated with multiple MIME types. Our MIME type lookup shows the correct IANA-registered MIME type for each extension.
Web servers like Apache, Nginx, and IIS have default MIME type mappings, but you may need to add or override them for less common formats. Use our MIME type lookup to find the correct type, then configure it in your server settings - for Apache you add to .htaccess or mime.types, for Nginx you use the types block, and for IIS you configure in web.config. Many modern servers and CDNs include up-to-date MIME type maps, but custom configurations may still require manual entries.
Most widely-used file formats have registered IANA MIME types, but some proprietary or legacy formats may not. For unregistered formats, the generic application/octet-stream type is used as a fallback. Some formats also have multiple registered MIME types due to historical evolution - for example, JavaScript files can be text/javascript or application/javascript, and TIFF images can be image/tiff or image/x-tiff.