What is MIME type "application/x-troff-me"?

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-troff-me is used for unformatted manual pages written with the me macro set. It contains troff markup instructions that require processing before viewing.

Files with this type are common on Unix systems. They are converted by tools like groff to produce nicely formatted manuals. This lets users access technical documentation through simple commands.

• Primary use: Formatting and printing manual pages.
• Conversion: Processed by text-formatting tools to create readable output.
• Legacy support: Part of a family of troff files. Similar types include those with MAN, MS, TR, T, and ROFF extensions.

This MIME type directs programs to treat the file as a set of formatting commands rather than plain text. It bridges the gap between raw code and human-friendly manuals, ensuring that detailed system documentation appears as intended.

Associated file extensions

.man, .ms, .tr, .t, .me, .roff

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: application/x-troff-me
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.man, .ms, .tr, .t, .me, .roff