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

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

application/metalink+xml is a MIME type for files that use an XML-based format. It organizes download information in a structured way using XML. Files with the METALINK extension rely on this MIME type. It provides a list of download sources, multiple URLs, and file verification details. This helps download managers boost reliability and efficiency.

Multiple Sources: Lists several mirror locations to download a file.
Integrity Checks: Contains checksums for verifying file integrity.
Streamlined Downloads: Enables segmented or parallel downloads from different sources.
XML Structure: Uses simple, structured formatting that is easy to parse by software.

More details on how Metalink works can be found at Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.metalink

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/metalink+xml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.metalink

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.