What is MIME type "application/vnd.microsoft.windows.thumbnail-cache"?

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

MIME type: application/vnd.microsoft.windows.thumbnail-cache
This type marks files that store cached thumbnail images used by Windows.
Windows creates these caches to speed up folder displays. It stores small preview images so that Windows Explorer won’t have to recreate them each time you open a folder.
Key Functions:

Thumbnail Caching: Saves small preview images of files to improve folder navigation.
Performance Enhancement: Reduces loading times when browsing folders with many images or videos.
Resource Optimization: Lowers the system resources needed by avoiding repeated image processing.

Usage: This MIME type is linked to the thumbnail cache file found in older Windows systems, like the Thumbs DB file from Windows XP. Its file extension appears as DB.
For more details, visit the Microsoft Documentation.

Associated file extensions

.db

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.microsoft.windows.thumbnail-cache

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.db

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.