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

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

application/davmount+xml is an XML format that describes how to mount a WebDAV resource.
It is used by files like DAVMOUNT to provide connection details for remote file shares.
This file tells a client the URL and other parameters needed to connect to and integrate a WebDAV server into the system.

Main use: Automatically mounting remote file systems via WebDAV.
Other uses: Simplifying configuration for network file sharing and enabling seamless integration with file managers.
Technical details: It is an XML document that can list server URLs, connection options, and other parameters.

For more details on this MIME type, check out its IANA registration.

Associated file extensions

.davmount

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/davmount+xml

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/davmount+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/davmount+xml');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.davmount

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of application/davmount+xml?

This MIME type is used to describe WebDAV mount points in an XML format. When a user clicks a link serving this type (often a file with the .davmount extension), it instructs the client operating system to automatically mount a remote WebDAV server as a local network drive.

How do I configure Apache to serve .davmount files correctly?

To ensure browsers trigger the correct mounting application, add the MIME type to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Use the line: AddType application/davmount+xml .davmount. This prevents the browser from simply displaying the XML code as text.

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

You should update your mime.types file or add a specific rule within your server block. Add the following entry: application/davmount+xml davmount;. This ensures Nginx sends the correct Content-Type header.

What does a davmount XML file look like?

It is a simple XML document defined by RFC 4709. The root element is <davmount>, containing a <url> element that specifies the WebDAV server address. It acts as a configuration file similar to how a .m3u file works for audio playlists.

Why is my browser displaying the XML text instead of mounting the drive?

This usually indicates a server misconfiguration where the file is being served as text/xml or text/plain. To fix this, the server must be configured to send the specific header Content-Type: application/davmount+xml, which tells the browser to hand the file over to a WebDAV client or the OS file manager.

Is it safe to open files with the application/davmount+xml type?

Generally, yes, as they are simple XML text files. However, they instruct your computer to connect to a remote server. You should only open .davmount files from trusted sources to avoid connecting to malicious servers that might attempt to capture network credentials.

Which operating systems support this MIME type natively?

Linux desktop environments like GNOME (via Nautilus/Files) and KDE have native support for this type. Windows and macOS may require specific WebDAV client software or registry tweaks to associate the .davmount extension with the native web folder mounting tools.

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.