MIME type lookup
Search common MIME types locally, including extensions and whether the content is binary or textual.
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How does this tool work?
Look up common MIME types associated with an extension, a filename or a media type. This search reads a small local table without opening a file. Use it when preparing a Content-Type header, server configuration or a list of accepted formats. The associations are guidance: an extension does not prove what a file contains, and more than one media type may relate to the same family of documents.
Input is trimmed and matched without case sensitivity. For a filename, the engine uses the final extension and ignores a query string or fragment. For a recognized media type, parameters after the semicolon are removed: text/html; charset=utf-8 searches for text/html. Matching uses substrings in both media types and extensions, so a query can return several results.
Each entry shows the type, known extensions, a category and a text or binary label. That label is not a charset and does not assess security. SVG is textual even though it represents an image; PDF is a binary format. The table also contains types without file extensions, such as multipart/form-data. It is neither an exhaustive copy nor a live synchronization of the IANA registry.
A server must declare the type of the content it actually sends. Renaming a file does not convert it. Parameters depend on the format and protocol: charset applies to some text formats, while multipart/form-data needs a boundary matching the body. Copying a base type here does not generate those parameters or configure your server.
How to use this tool
Enter a reference
Try .webp, report.pdf or text/html; charset=utf-8. No upload is needed: a filename is only used to extract an extension.
Read all matches
Partial matching can produce unexpected neighbors. Check the complete media type and listed extensions before choosing an entry.
Copy the media type
Click the useful value to copy it. Add any required parameters in your own configuration after consulting the format’s documentation.
Use cases
Configure a JSON response
Find application/json before setting Content-Type in your application. Check separately that the actual response body is valid JSON.
Prepare a file picker filter
Review common extensions when documenting an import. A selection filter does not replace validation of the files you receive.
Explore a media family
Search image/ to compare image formats present in the table. A missing result only means this local reference does not cover that format.
Examples
An image extension
.webp finds image/webp in the table. It does not prove that a file named photo.webp really contains a WebP image.
Input
.webpResult
image/webpA charset parameter
The parameter is removed for lookup. The table returns a base media type rather than verifying the document’s actual encoding.
Input
text/html; charset=utf-8Result
text/htmlTips and best practices
- For .tar.gz, the final extension identifies gzip here; the tool does not unpack compression layers.
- A text label does not imply safe content: formats such as HTML and SVG can contain active content.
- A media type without an extension is still usable in HTTP; do not invent a filename extension just to fill a configuration field.
Sources and references
- Media Types Registry (opens in a new tab), IANAPage in English
Frequently asked questions
Does this list cover every IANA type?
No. It is a local catalogue of common formats. Consult the IANA registry and format documentation when a specific value is missing.
Does it detect file signatures?
No. It only uses your input and table associations. It does not inspect bytes or verify that a filename matches its content.
Are Content-Type and filename extensions interchangeable?
No. Content-Type describes the transmitted media, while an extension belongs to a filename. The same representation can be stored under different names.
Why is application/octet-stream listed?
It is a generic binary type. Prefer a specific type when the format is known; the generic label neither converts nor secures the file.
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