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

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.