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

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

application/x-mswinurl is a MIME type used for Windows Internet Shortcut files. These files quickly direct a user to a specific web address.

This MIME type links your computer to a website. The file itself is a simple text file. It stores the URL and sometimes additional settings, like an icon choice. When you double-click a shortcut with this MIME type, your default web browser opens the stored URL.

Simple access: Launch a web page without opening a browser manually.
Desktop shortcuts: Keep frequently visited websites easily accessible from the desktop or a folder.
Integration: Works within Windows Explorer and the Windows operating system to associate the shortcut file with a web browser.

Files using this type are often saved with an extension like URL. For more detailed information on file types, visit external resources such as filext.com.

Associated file extensions

.url

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-mswinurl

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.url

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.