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

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

application/x-msclip is a MIME type used by Microsoft for clipboard data files. It works in the Windows environment to hold the contents that you copy from one place and paste elsewhere. The file associated with this type uses the extension CLP. Main purposes and functionalities:

Clipboard Data Storage: It saves data copied to the clipboard, including text, images, and formatting details.
Internal Use: Applications on Windows use this format to manage copy‑and‑paste operations.
Non-Standard Format: The MIME type uses an “x‑” prefix, which indicates it is a non-standard, Microsoft‑specific format.

Functionality:
An application/x-msclip file captures a snapshot of your clipboard contents. It preserves multiple data types in one file structure and is essential for transferring that data internally within Windows applications. This type of file is rarely opened or edited directly by users, but it plays a key role in maintaining efficient clipboard operations.
For more information on MIME types, see MIME on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.clp

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-msclip

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.clp

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.