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

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

application/x-mspublisher is the MIME type for files produced by Microsoft Publisher. These files contain desktop publishing data such as page layouts, text, images, and graphics optimized for printing or digital distribution.

File Identification: It signals that the file is a publication document.
System Handling: Operating systems and applications use this MIME type to launch the correct program.
Usage Context: It's used when sharing or emailing documents created in Microsoft Publisher.
Document Features: The files store design elements and formatting that standard text editors typically cannot process.

The MIME type is associated with the file extension PUB. More information can be found in resources like the Microsoft Publisher article.

Associated file extensions

.pub

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-mspublisher

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.pub

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.