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

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

application/enex+xml is a MIME type used for Evernote export files. It defines an XML structure that holds your Evernote notes and metadata. Files with this type use the format represented by ENEX and are designed to encapsulate all elements of your notes.

The format serves a few key purposes:

Backup & Restore: Save and recover your Evernote data safely.
Data Migration: Transfer notes between Evernote accounts or different devices.
Interoperability: Share formatted note content with compatible applications.

Because the file uses an XML structure, it can store text, images, attachments, and metadata in a structured way. This makes it easy for software to parse and manage the data without losing details. For additional context on MIME types, check out MIME on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.enex

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/enex+xml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.enex

FAQs

How do I open a file with the application/enex+xml MIME type?

You primarily use the Evernote desktop application to import these files via the File > Import menu. Alternatively, many other note-taking tools like Notion, Joplin, or Microsoft OneNote support importing .enex files to migrate your data.

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

You should add a specific directive to your .htaccess file or main server configuration. Add the line AddType application/enex+xml .enex to ensure the server sends the correct headers instead of defaulting to text/xml or text/plain.

Why does my browser show code instead of notes when opening this file?

Browsers do not have a built-in rendering engine for the ENEX format. Because the MIME type indicates an XML-based structure, browsers like Chrome or Firefox will display the raw XML tree or prompt you to download the file rather than showing formatted notes.

How do I add support for application/enex+xml in Nginx?

Open your mime.types file (usually located in /etc/nginx/) and add the entry application/enex+xml enex;. After saving the file, reload Nginx using sudo service nginx reload to apply the changes.

Is application/enex+xml the same as text/xml?

Technically, the file content is valid XML, but application/enex+xml is a specific subtype that tells the operating system the file adheres to the Evernote Export schema. Using the specific MIME type helps the OS launch the correct application (Evernote) rather than a generic text editor.

Can I convert application/enex+xml files to Markdown or HTML?

Yes, because the format is structured XML, it can be parsed programmatically. Tools like Pandoc or specific scripts like enex2md can read the tags within the file and convert the notes into standard Markdown or HTML for web publishing.

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.