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

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

application/srgs+xml is a MIME type for XML-based grammar files. These files define rules that help speech recognition systems understand spoken commands.

They are based on the Speech Recognition Grammar Specification and tell an engine which phrases or words to expect.

Files using this MIME type, such as GRXML, are used in scenarios like:

Main Role: Defining spoken language patterns in voice-driven applications.
Use Cases: Interactive voice response (IVR) systems; voice command interfaces; natural language processing tasks.
Standards-based: They adhere to guidelines set by W3C for speech grammars.

The XML structure makes these files both human-readable and machine-parsable. For extended technical details, see the W3C Speech Grammar Specification.

Associated file extensions

.grxml

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/srgs+xml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.grxml

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.