What is MIME type "application/wsdl+xml"?

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

application/wsdl+xml is the MIME type for documents written in Web Services Description Language using XML. These documents describe web service interfaces in a structured way.

They define the operations a web service offers, the messages exchanged, and the protocols used. This information helps different systems understand how to connect to and use the web service.

Key functions include:

Service Definition: Outlines available web service functionalities.
Protocol Specification: Details the communication methods and message formats.
Client Integration: Enables automatic generation of client code to access the service.

The main file type using this MIME type is WSDL.

For more detailed technical information, see the WSDL specification.

Associated file extensions

.wsdl

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/wsdl+xml

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/wsdl+xml">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/wsdl+xml');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.wsdl

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.