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

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

The MIME type application/eaf+xml identifies files that store annotations in an XML structure. These files support the precise marking of audio or video segments for language research and multimedia transcription.

The format is widely used by the ELAN tool to create detailed annotation layers. Its XML basis allows programs to parse, validate, and extract data with ease.

Main purpose: Enable time-aligned annotations for linguistic studies and multimedia analysis.
Use cases: Detailed transcription, gesture annotation, language documentation, and research in linguistics.
Technical benefit: Leverages the flexibility of XML for scalable, layered annotations and metadata.

Files using this MIME type are saved with the EAF extension. This association makes it easy for experts and software to recognize and process annotated media data efficiently. For more details on file types and formats, visit resources like Filext.

Associated file extensions

.eaf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/eaf+xml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.eaf

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.