What is MIME type "application/x-bcpio"?

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

The MIME type application/x-bcpio is used for files in the BCPIO archive format. It stores files and their metadata in a single binary package. This format keeps details like file permissions and timestamps intact.

It is most common in Unix systems, where it serves for tasks such as:

• Main use: archiving groups of files for backup or transfer.
• Additional uses: system recovery and file restoration, especially in legacy environments.
• Key fact: the binary structure allows for efficient bundling and later extraction of files with all their attributes.

For more details on similar archive formats, visit CPIO Archive Format.

Associated file extensions

.bcpio

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: application/x-bcpio
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.bcpio