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

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

application/x-tar designates a Tape Archive format used to bundle many files into one file.
It groups files without compressing them. Compression is applied later with tools like gzip or xz.
This format keeps file paths and metadata such as permissions intact.
It is favored in Unix and Linux environments for packaging backups, software, and data transfers.
Examples include archives like TAR and combined formats such as TGZ, TXZ, TZ, TBZ, TAZ, TSZ, and TLZ.

Main use: Combines many files into a single archive.
Maintains file hierarchy and metadata.
Serves as a base format for further compression.
Widely used for backups, software distribution, and data transfer.

Learn more at Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.tar, .tgz, .txz, .tz, .tbz, .taz, .tsz, .tlz

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-tar

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.tar, .tgz, .txz, .tz, .tbz, .taz, .tsz, .tlz

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.