What is MIME type "application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable"?

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

application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable is the MIME type for the Windows Portable Executable (PE) format. This format is used for binary files that contain executable code and resources. It tells systems and applications how to load and run these files.

The PE format is a container. It separates code, data, and resources. It includes headers that describe memory usage, linking information, and more. This structure helps the operating system manage the file correctly.

Files using this MIME type are central to Windows. They include programs, libraries, drivers, and firmware components. For example, you see the following file types:

• Executable Programs – like EXE, which start applications.
• Shared Libraries – such as DLL, which provide code for other programs.
• System Files – like SYS and DRV, used for device drivers.
• Other Executable Content – including SCR (screensavers), EFI (firmware boot loaders), MUI (multilingual user interfaces), TSP, AX, and ACM.

This MIME type is used in web servers and email attachments to signal that a file is a compiled, executable binary. Developers and system administrators may inspect the PE headers to debug, secure, or optimize these files.

In summary, application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable identifies a file that follows the Windows PE format. It ensures that the file is handled correctly by Windows systems, whether the file is an application, a library, or a system component.

For more technical details, see Portable Executable on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.exe, .dll, .scr, .efi, .sys, .mui, .tsp, .drv, .ax, .acm

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.exe, .dll, .scr, .efi, .sys, .mui, .tsp, .drv, .ax, .acm