What is MIME type "application/ion"?

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

The MIME type application/ion signals that the file is encoded in the Ion data format. This format is built for data serialization and supports both human-friendly text and efficient binary representations.

Files with the ION extension use this MIME type. Ion makes it easier to store and exchange structured, hierarchical data. It accommodates rich data types and allows for metadata annotations, which help in keeping track of extra details.

Data Serialization: Efficiently encodes structured data for storage and transport.
Interchange Format: Enables seamless data exchange between different systems.
Dual Representation: Supports both human-readable text and compact binary formats.
Extensibility: Offers flexibility with annotations and a variety of data types.

For more details, visit the Amazon Ion Documentation.

Associated file extensions

.ion

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/ion

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.ion

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.