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

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

application/x-gzip identifies files compressed using the gzip algorithm. It reduces file sizes for faster transfers and more efficient storage.

It is widely used on various systems. When you receive files like GZ, EMZ, or TGZ, they are usually compressed with gzip.

Some packages, like game assets packaged as UNITYPACKAGE, also use this format. Files ending with a pattern like "*-gz" follow the same compression method.

Efficient Compression: Reduces file sizes for easier sharing and storage.
Broad Compatibility: Used in Unix, Linux, and Windows environments.
Standard Tools: Supported by utilities such as gzip and gunzip.
Archive Integration: Often paired with tar for creating TGZ archives.

For more details on gzip compression, see Gzip on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.gz, .emz, .tgz, .unitypackage

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-gzip

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.gz, .emz, .tgz, .unitypackage

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.