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

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

application/x-starwriter is a MIME type that signals a StarWriter document produced by the StarOffice suite. It tells your computer which application should open the file and how to process its content.

Files with this type use a specific, vendor-defined format. This setup allows the system to recognize that the file is a rich text document with formatting, images, and other embedded elements. It is a non-standard ("x-") MIME type reserved for special cases.

The document commonly has the file extension SDW.

Document creation: Stores full-featured word processing content.
Legacy support: Common in older office suites like StarOffice.
File recognition: Helps operating systems and browsers know which application to use.

This MIME type is essential for proper handling and compatibility in environments that work with legacy document formats. For more information on MIME types, check out the Media Type article.

Associated file extensions

.sdw

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-starwriter

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.sdw

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.