What is MIME type "application/x-tika-java-web-archive"?

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

The MIME type application/x-tika-java-web-archive marks a packaged Java web application. It signals that the file is a web archive bundled for deployment on a Java application server.

This format contains all the necessary components—code, libraries, resources, and configuration—to run a web app. It is often processed or identified by tools like Apache Tika, which analyze file content and metadata.

Packaging: Bundles a complete web application in one file.
Deployment: Simplifies moving the application to a server.
Extraction: Enables content analysis and security scanning.

Files using this MIME type have the extension WAR.

For more details on how these archives work and how they are used in real-world applications, check out Apache Tika.

Associated file extensions

.war

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-tika-java-web-archive

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.war

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.