What is MIME type "application/akn+xml"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

application/akn+xml is a MIME type for files that follow the Akoma Ntoso standard.
It marks up legal and parliamentary documents in an XML format. This helps with digital document exchange and processing in legal systems.

It standardizes the structure of legislative texts and related documents.
It supports machine-readable legal document management.
It facilitates easier data exchange between government software systems.

Files using this MIME type typically have the XML extension. For more details on the specifications, visit the official Akoma Ntoso website.

Associated file extensions

.xml

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/akn+xml

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/akn+xml">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/akn+xml');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.xml

FAQs

What is the purpose of the application/akn+xml MIME type?

This MIME type represents documents formatted according to the Akoma Ntoso standard (Architecture for Knowledge-Oriented Management of African Normative Texts using Open Standards and Ontologies). It is an XML-based format used specifically for describing parliamentary, legislative, and judiciary documents to facilitate digital exchange.

How does application/akn+xml differ from standard application/xml?

While both are XML formats, application/akn+xml is a specific subtype that indicates the content follows the Akoma Ntoso schema. Using generic application/xml tells a browser the file is XML, but the akn+xml subtype explicitly signals that the file contains structured legal or parliamentary data.

How do I configure Apache to serve Akoma Ntoso files?

You can add the MIME type definition to your .htaccess or main configuration file. Use the directive AddType application/akn+xml .akn (or .xml if you wish to override the default XML behavior for specific files).

Can web browsers natively render application/akn+xml files?

Most modern browsers will display the raw XML tree structure or prompt the user to download the file. To display the document as formatted legal text, you typically need to reference an XSLT stylesheet within the file or use a client-side JavaScript viewer to transform the XML into HTML.

What are the security implications of using this MIME type?

Since this format is based on XML, it is vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) attacks if the processing software is not configured correctly. Developers parsing application/akn+xml should ensure their XML parsers disable external entity resolution to prevent data exfiltration or denial of service.

How do I add support for this MIME type in Nginx?

Edit your mime.types file or the types block in your server configuration. Add the line application/akn+xml akn; to map the type to the .akn extension, or adjust accordingly if you are using the standard .xml extension for these documents.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.