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

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-dvi is for TeX Device Independent Documents. It tells your system that the file follows the TeX typesetting format and is not tied to any hardware.

Files using this MIME type are usually generated during the TeX document creation process. They hold all layout instructions. The output file typically has the DVI extension. These files are intermediary; they are often later converted to formats like PDF.

Device Independence: The file’s content adapts to any output device.
Intermediary Use: It serves as a stepping stone in the document preparation workflow.
TeX Integration: It is key in academic and technical document production using TeX.

Additional tools and viewers are needed to display these files properly. For more on how DVI files work, visit this reference.

Associated file extensions

.dvi

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-dvi

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.dvi

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.