What is MIME type "application/netcdf"?

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

application/netcdf is a MIME type for files in the netCDF format. It indicates that the file contains multi-dimensional scientific data.

The format is designed to store, share, and process large arrays of numerical data from fields such as atmospheric science, oceanography, and climatology.

Data Storage: Optimized for large-scale, multi-dimensional data arrays.
Scientific Research: Commonly used to archive climate, weather, and oceanographic observations.
Data Sharing: Self-describing files ensure portability across different computing systems.

Files using the netCDF-3 Classic format appear with extensions such as NC and CDF.

For further details on how netCDF is used and its technical standards, see the netCDF documentation.

Associated file extensions

.nc, .cdf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/netcdf

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.nc, .cdf

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.