What is MIME type "application/msword"?

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

application/msword is the MIME type that signals a file is a Microsoft Word document. It tells browsers, email clients, and operating systems that the file contains rich formatted text meant for a word processor.

When a server sends a file with this MIME type, the receiving application knows to open it with software like Microsoft Word or a compatible editor. This ensures the document’s layout, images, and styling are preserved during viewing or editing.

Main Use Case: Deliver formatted and editable documents created in Microsoft Word.
Email Attachments: Enable proper handling of Word documents attached to emails.
Web Downloads: Guide browsers in downloading or displaying the document correctly.
Legacy and Specialized Formats: Support older MS-DOS and platform-specific file types used by Word.

Files associated with this MIME type include standard document and template formats such as DOCX, DOC, and DOT.

Other related files include specialized templates and macro-enabled documents like DOTX, DOCM, and DOTM. Some older or less common file types—such as style sheets, printer descriptions, and glossary files (STY, GLY, GLX, MCW, PRD, STX) also use this designation. Even some files with non-obvious extensions like VTT might be encountered in certain contexts.

This MIME type is key in file identification and handling. It ensures that when you open or download a file, your system uses the proper software and displays the content as intended. For more on MIME types, visit MIME Types Info.

Associated file extensions

.docx, .vtt, .doc, .sty, .dotx, .prd, .docm, .dot, .wbk, .dotm, .mcw, .stx, .gly, .glx

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/msword

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.docx, .vtt, .doc, .sty, .dotx, .prd, .docm, .dot, .wbk, .dotm, .mcw, .stx, .gly, .glx

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.