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

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

application/x-tiff designates image data stored in the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). It tells programs that the file holds detailed, high-quality image information.

This format preserves fine details, making it popular in professional scanning and photography.
It is used in desktop publishing and printing because it supports high resolution and lossless data.
It handles multiple layers and pages in one file, useful for archiving and complex image editing.

Files using this MIME type include those typically seen as TIF or TIFF formats.

For a deeper dive, check out the TIFF Wikipedia article.

Associated file extensions

.tif, .tiff

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-tiff

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.tif, .tiff

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.