What is MIME type "application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip"?

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

application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip defines the installer package for Adobe AIR apps.
It is a compressed file that bundles all necessary components in a ZIP archive.

Main use: To install Adobe AIR applications efficiently.
Primary function: Bundles assets, configuration files, and code into one package.
Technical detail: Utilizes ZIP compression for streamlined delivery.
Platform support: Works on multiple operating systems when used with the Adobe AIR runtime.

Files with the AIR extension use this MIME type.
It also supports digital signatures and update mechanisms for secure deployments.
More details can be found at Adobe AIR Developer Resources.

Associated file extensions

.air

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip">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/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.air

FAQs

Which file extension uses the MIME type application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip?

This MIME type is exclusively associated with the .air file extension. These files serve as cross-platform installer packages for applications built using the Adobe AIR runtime. You can learn more about this extension at our AIR page.

How do I configure Apache to serve .air files correctly?

To ensure browsers recognize the file as an installer rather than a generic ZIP archive, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip .air. This ensures the correct Content-Type header is sent during download.

Why is my browser downloading the .air file as a .zip file?

This usually happens because the web server is not configured to send the correct MIME type. Since the underlying format of an AIR package is a ZIP archive, browsers often detect the file signature and default to application/zip or change the extension to .zip if the specific AIR header is missing.

How can I inspect the contents of this file type without installing it?

Because application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip is based on the ZIP standard, you can simply rename the file extension from .air to .zip. Once renamed, you can open it with standard tools like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or the built-in archive utility in your operating system to view the bundled assets and XML configuration files.

What is the Nginx configuration for serving Adobe AIR packages?

In your mime.types file or inside a specific server block, add the directive: application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip air;. Reload Nginx to apply changes, ensuring that users download the file with the correct association for the AIR runtime.

Is this MIME type safe to execute?

Files with this MIME type are executable installers that deploy software onto your system. Like any executable (such as .exe or .dmg), you should only run them if they come from a trusted source. Adobe AIR packages support digital signatures, allowing you to verify the publisher's identity before installation.

What software is required to open application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip files?

To install the application contained in the package, the end-user needs the Adobe AIR Runtime installed on their computer. While Adobe originally developed it, support and distribution are currently managed by Harman International. Without the runtime, the operating system will not know how to execute the file.

General 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.