What is MIME type "application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip"?

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

application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip is a container format built on a zip archive. It packages files with their digital signatures in a secure, verifiable bundle.

This MIME type follows ETSI standards for digital signatures. It ensures that the signed document and its signature data remain linked and intact.

Main use case: Bundling a document with its digital signature for secure transmission.
Ensures file integrity during digital exchanges.
Supports legal and business transactions requiring trusted digital signatures.

Files using this format typically have extensions like SCS or ASICS. These names signal that the file is an Associated Signature Container Simple.

For further technical details on ETSI standards, explore resources at ETSI.

Associated file extensions

.scs, .asics

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+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.etsi.asic-s+zip');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.scs, .asics

FAQs

What is the purpose of application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip?

This MIME type represents an Associated Signature Container Simple (ASiC-S). It is a standardized format defined by ETSI to bundle a single data object (like a PDF or XML file) with its digital signature inside a ZIP archive, ensuring the document's integrity and authenticity.

How do I open .asics or .scs files?

You typically need specialized e-signing software or government-issued e-ID tools (such as DigiDoc or other ETSI-compliant viewers) to verify the signature. However, because the underlying format is a standard ZIP, you can often rename the file extension to .zip to extract and view the raw documents inside.

How do I configure Apache to serve ASiC-S files?

To ensure browsers handle the file correctly, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip .asics .scs. This helps client applications trigger the correct signature verification tool.

What is the Nginx configuration for this MIME type?

In your nginx.conf file, locate the types block and add the mapping: application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip asics scs;. This ensures the server sends the correct Content-Type header instead of defaulting to application/octet-stream.

Why does the browser download the file instead of displaying it?

Web browsers like Chrome and Firefox do not have native support for verifying ETSI digital signatures. Therefore, they treat application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip as a binary file to be downloaded and opened by a local desktop application capable of cryptographic validation.

What is the difference between ASiC-S and ASiC-E?

The ASiC-S (Simple) format is designed to associate a single file with a signature. In contrast, ASiC-E (Extended) allows for bundling multiple files and signatures into one container and uses a different MIME type (application/vnd.etsi.asic-e+zip).

Are these files compatible with standard ZIP utilities?

Yes, structurally they are valid ZIP archives. You can use tools like WinZip or 7-Zip to inspect the contents, which usually include the original document and a signature file (often named mimetype and META-INF). However, standard ZIP tools cannot verify the legal validity of the digital signature.

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.