What is MIME type "application/x-ms-pdb"?

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

application/x-ms-pdb is a MIME type for Microsoft debugging files. These files hold symbolic information that maps machine code to source code. This information is critical during debugging steps to locate errors in the code.

The file is normally generated alongside executables during the build process. It helps debuggers associate binary instructions with readable code, variable names, and function boundaries. The data speeds up error tracking and post-crash analysis. These files are most common in Microsoft development environments and are rarely shared outside the debugging context of development projects involving Windows software. They are specifically stored in a PDB container from Microsoft Program DataBase (v7).

• Main use: Mapping compiled binaries back to source code during debugging.
• Helps locate errors and optimize performance.
• Assists in post-mortem crash analysis.
• Supports step-by-step code inspections in development tools.

For more details on MIME types and debugging files, check out the Microsoft Debugging Documentation.

Associated file extensions

.pdb

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: application/x-ms-pdb
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.pdb