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

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

application/x-rpm is a MIME type used for packaging files in Linux systems.
It tells software tools that the file contains a package built with the Red Hat Package Manager.

Software Packaging: Bundles binaries, scripts, and metadata into one archive.
Installation: Used to install, update, or remove software on RPM-based systems.
System Management: Helps verify package integrity and dependency resolution.

Files like RPM make it simpler for system administrators and package managers to handle software distribution.
This format is common in distributions such as Red Hat, Fedora, and CentOS.
For further details on file specifics, consider visiting external resources like Filext.

Associated file extensions

.rpm

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-rpm

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.rpm

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.