What is MIME type "application/x-lz4"?

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-lz4 marks files that are compressed with the LZ4 algorithm.
This algorithm is built for speed. It compresses and decompresses data very quickly.
It helps reduce file size without delaying performance.

Fast Processing: Ideal for real-time data handling and streaming.
Efficient Storage: Shrinks files while keeping processing overhead low.
Broad Usage: Common in backup tools, game development, and large-scale data applications.

Files using this compression often carry the LZ4 extension.
For more details on the algorithm, check out the LZ4 Wikipedia page or the LZ4 GitHub repository.

Associated file extensions

.lz4

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-lz4

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/x-lz4">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-lz4');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.lz4

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.