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

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

application/x-dbase is a MIME type for files in the dBASE table format (DBF). It marks files that store data in structured tables, similar to a simple database.

Files of this type are used in legacy systems and various modern applications that manage tabular data.
They support organizing records into rows and columns for easy data access and exchange.

It is used in desktop database applications.
It is common in business record systems.
It is useful in geographic information systems (GIS) for handling attribute data.

The format is associated with the file extension DBF.
Programs can open, edit, and export these files, ensuring compatibility across systems.

Associated file extensions

.dbf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-dbase

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.dbf

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.