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

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

The MIME type application/sbml+xml signals that a file holds data in an XML format. It is used for encoding computational models of biological systems in the Systems Biology Markup Language.

This format helps software recognize the file content and parse it correctly. Files with this MIME type carry model details like biological reactions, compartments, species, and controls.

• Primary Purpose: To standardize the description of biological system models for simulation and analysis.
• Technical Functionality: It uses an XML structure to define complex data with clear hierarchy and syntax. This ensures data can be shared between different bioinformatics tools.
• Key Uses:
  • Modeling biochemical networks
  • Simulating metabolic and signaling pathways
  • Exchanging models in computational biology

Files labeled with this MIME type can have naming conventions like SBML or may simply use the standard XML extension. The dual indication shows their basis in both a generic markup language and a specialized biology format.

For more detailed technical insights, see resources like the SBML website.

Associated file extensions

.xml, .sbml

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: application/sbml+xml
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.xml, .sbml