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

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

application/x-bibtex marks files that contain bibliographic data used by BibTeX.
It holds reference entries in a structured, text-based format to work with citation tools and document compilers like LaTeX.
Files of this type help manage references by storing entries with keys, author names, titles, and publication details. They allow automated bibliography generation in academic documents.
A common file using this MIME type has the extension BIB.

Use case: Manage and store academic references.
Use case: Automate automated bibliography formatting in documents.
Key fact: The plain text nature makes it easy to edit and integrate with document typesetting systems.

For further reading, visit this resource.

Associated file extensions

.bib

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-bibtex

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.bib

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.