What is MIME type "application/jsonl"?

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

The MIME type application/jsonl is for files that use the JSON Lines format. Each line holds one complete JSON object.
This setup is ideal for large datasets and streaming logs because programs can read one record at a time.

Stream Processing: New records appear line after line.
Incremental Handling: Data can be processed without loading the whole file.
Efficiency: Simplifies parsing when working with continuous data feeds.

Files in this format often use the JSONL extension. Some applications, like those handling JSON-based 3D Tiles, also involve similar data handling.
More details about JSON Lines are available at jsonlines.org.

Associated file extensions

.json, .jsonl

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/jsonl

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.json, .jsonl

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.