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

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

application/x-matroska is the MIME type for the Matroska container format.
It holds different media streams like video, audio, and text in one file.
Files using this type include formats such as MKV, MKS, MKA, and MK3D.

Multimedia container: Combines video, audio, and subtitles in one file.
Open and flexible: Designed as a royalty-free format for diverse media applications.
Advanced features: Supports chapters, metadata, and even 3D content.
Wide compatibility: Works with many players and streaming tools.

Developers and media enthusiasts use it for archiving, streaming, and high-quality playback.
Learn more on the Matroska official website.

Associated file extensions

.mkv, .mks, .mka, .mk3d

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-matroska

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.mkv, .mks, .mka, .mk3d

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.