What is MIME type "application/vnd.ms-excel"?

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

application/vnd.ms-excel tells systems that a file is made for Microsoft Excel.
It signals that the file is a spreadsheet. It can contain data, formulas, macros, and custom formatting.
When a server sends a file with this type, web browsers and email programs know how to process it properly.

Data Processing: Files with this MIME type store and calculate data.
Compatibility: Microsoft Excel and other applications recognize and open these files.
Delivery: It ensures correct handling when files are sent over the internet.

This MIME type is used by several Excel-based file formats such as XLS, XLA, XLB, XLM, XLT, XLL, XLW, XLC, and XLD.
More Information about this MIME type can be found on the IANA website.

Associated file extensions

.xls, .xla, .xlb, .xlm, .xlt, .xll, .xlw, .xlc, .xld

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.xls, .xla, .xlb, .xlm, .xlt, .xll, .xlw, .xlc, .xld

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.