What is MIME type "application/vnd.efi.img"?

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

application/vnd.efi.img is a vendor-specific MIME type. It indicates a binary disk image that is formatted for systems using the EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface).

Files with this MIME type are typically used to store raw copies of a disk or partition. They often contain the boot code, firmware, or recovery data that an EFI-based system might need. This type tells the operating system and related software how to handle the underlying data correctly, ensuring that the file is not mistaken for a general image or text file.

Raw Disk Images – The file holds a bit-for-bit copy of a disk or partition.
Boot and Firmware Data – It may include boot loaders or firmware necessary to start an EFI system.
Vendor Specification – The prefix vnd implies that this format is defined and maintained by a specific vendor.
System Recovery and Updates – It is sometimes used to flash or update hardware firmware in EFI-based devices.

Files using this MIME type are generally identified by the file extension IMG. For more details on MIME types and their roles, you can check the official IANA media types list.

Associated file extensions

.img

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.efi.img

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.img

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.