What is MIME type "application/x-unix-archive"?

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

application/x-unix-archive designates Unix archive files. These files are containers that bundle multiple objects together without compression.

They are most commonly used to store static libraries. The archives hold machine code objects that linkers merge into executables. This format is essential in Unix-based build processes.

Main use: Packaging static libraries for the linker.
Other uses: Archiving object files during software compilation and distribution.
Functionality: It simply groups files in a defined sequence to be later extracted or linked.

Files using this MIME type often appear with the extensions A and AR.

For further details, see the Unix Archive format on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.a, .ar

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-unix-archive

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.a, .ar

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.