What is MIME type "application/x-raw-disk-image"?

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

application/x-raw-disk-image is a MIME type that marks a file as a raw disk image. It holds an exact, bit-for-bit copy of a storage device’s contents. This copy includes all sectors, partitions, and boot records.

It is mainly used when an unprocessed duplicate of a disk is needed. Tools for backup, cloning, or forensic analysis often work with these images. They are also common in environments handling encrypted volumes, such as those protected by LUKS.

Main Use Case: Creating a complete duplicate of a storage device, useful for recovery and system migration.
Backup and Cloning: Preserves every bit of data for robust backups or exact drive clones.
Forensic Analysis: Captures every sector of a drive for thorough examinations.
Encryption Related: Commonly linked to tools managing LUKS volumes. Files like IMG, LUKS, and LUKSVOLUMEHEADERBACKUP are often produced in such contexts.

This format is raw and uncompressed. It does not alter or add metadata to the captured data. For more detailed technical information on disk images, visit Disk Image on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.img, .luks, .luksvolumeheaderbackup

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-raw-disk-image

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.img, .luks, .luksvolumeheaderbackup

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.