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

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

application/x-mod is a MIME type for module music files. It is used by files in the DOS Sound and Music Interface Advanced Module Format.
Module files contain digital music data. They store sound samples and sequencing instructions used by tracker software. The files allow a program to rebuild music in real time.

Used to play digital music created with tracker software
Contains both audio samples and instructions for playback
Offers multi-channel sound capabilities
Finds use in retro computing and classic gaming communities

Files that follow this type may have the extension AMF.
Learn more about MIME types on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.amf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-mod

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.amf

FAQs

How do I open an AMF file with the application/x-mod MIME type?

To open these files, you need a specialized module player or "tracker" software. Popular modern options include OpenMPT (Open ModPlug Tracker) and VLC Media Player, while legacy users might prefer Winamp. These programs interpret the sequencing data inside the application/x-mod file to synthesize the music.

Can web browsers play application/x-mod files natively?

No, standard web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) cannot play Advanced Module Format files natively using the HTML5 <audio> tag. To play these on a webpage, you must use JavaScript-based emulators like libopenmpt or convert the file to a universally supported format like MP3.

How do I configure Apache to serve .amf files correctly?

You can enable support by adding a directive to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Add the line AddType application/x-mod .amf to ensure the server sends the correct headers. This allows client software to recognize the file as a music module immediately upon download.

What is the difference between application/x-mod and MP3?

Files with the application/x-mod type act like digital sheet music with embedded instruments, instructing the computer how to play the song in real-time. Conversely, MP3 files contain the actual recorded sound wave. Consequently, module files are often significantly smaller than MP3s but require specific software for playback.

Why does my browser download the AMF file instead of playing it?

Browsers default to downloading files they cannot render or execute. Since application/x-mod is not a standard web media type and requires a specific synthesis engine, the browser treats it as a generic binary object and saves it to your disk.

How do I add support for application/x-mod in Nginx?

Edit your mime.types file, typically found in /etc/nginx/, and add the line application/x-mod amf; inside the types { } block. After saving, reload Nginx to ensure that files with the .amf extension are served with the correct MIME type.

Is application/x-mod a standard IANA MIME type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that it is a non-standard or experimental type. While it is commonly used in the tracker and retro-computing community for module files, it is not an official IANA standard like audio/midi or audio/wav.

General 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.