What is MIME type "application/vnd.apache.arrow.file"?

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

The MIME type application/vnd.apache.arrow.file is used by files created with Apache Arrow. It stores data in a binary, columnar format that accelerates large data transfers and in-memory processing. It is designed for efficient analytics and data science workflows.

Main Use: Fast serialization and sharing of large data sets.
Functionality: Organizes data by columns, which minimizes memory overhead and improves query speed.
Cross-Platform: Supported across multiple programming environments, facilitating interoperability.
Usage Scenarios: Big data analytics, machine learning, and real-time data processing.

Files with this MIME type usually use the ARROW extension. For further details, visit the Apache Arrow project page.

Associated file extensions

.arrow

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.apache.arrow.file

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.arrow

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.