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

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

MIME type: application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing defines files used for creating and editing diagram drawings with Microsoft Visio.
It marks a document as an Office Open XML Visio Drawing (macro-free) file. The file typically uses the extension VSDX and contains diagram elements like shapes and connectors.
This MIME type tells operating systems, web servers, and applications that the file is a diagram document. It helps in:

Viewing diagrams: Ensures the correct viewer or editor (like Microsoft Visio) is used.
File association: Links the file to Visio for proper opening and editing.
Content delivery: Enables servers to set the right HTTP headers for file transfer.

It is a key part of modern document management for technical and business diagramming. For further details on the standard behind Office Open XML, visit ISO/IEC 29500.

Associated file extensions

.vsdx

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vsdx

FAQs

Which file extension is associated with application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing?

This MIME type is exclusively associated with the .vsdx file extension. It represents the modern, XML-based Visio drawing format introduced in Microsoft Visio 2013, replacing the older binary .vsd format.

Can web browsers display application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing files directly?

No, standard web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not natively render VSDX files. When a server sends this MIME type, the browser will usually prompt the user to download the file or open it in an external application like Microsoft Visio.

How do I configure Apache or Nginx to serve VSDX files correctly?

For Apache, add AddType application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing .vsdx to your config or .htaccess file. For Nginx, include application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing vsdx; within the types block of your mime.types file or server configuration.

What is the difference between application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing and application/vnd.visio?

application/vnd.visio (or application/x-visio) is used for legacy binary Visio files (.vsd). In contrast, application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing is specific to the newer Office Open XML format (.vsdx).

Does this MIME type allow macros to run?

No, application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing indicates a macro-free drawing. If a Visio file contains VBA macros, it typically uses the .vsdm extension and requires the MIME type application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing.macroEnabled.main+xml.

Why does IIS return a 404 error when accessing a VSDX file?

Older versions of IIS generally do not have this MIME type configured by default, causing the server to block the file as unknown. To resolve this, open IIS Manager, navigate to MIME Types, and manually add the extension .vsdx with the type application/vnd.ms-visio.drawing.

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.