What is MIME type "application/x-virtualbox-vhd"?

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

application/x-virtualbox-vhd is a MIME type that identifies virtual hard disk images used by VirtualBox. These files hold a complete disk layout. They simulate a real hard drive to run an operating system in a virtual environment.

The associated file uses the VHD format. This format can store boot data, system files, and personal data as if it were a physical disk.

Virtual Machine Boot Disk: It holds the operating system for virtual machines.
Testing Environments: It lets users test software and configurations safely.
Backup and Recovery: It can serve to back up entire systems in a compact file.
System Experimentation: It helps in experimenting with different setups without affecting real hardware.

Files with this MIME type are mainly used in virtualization platforms like VirtualBox.

Associated file extensions

.vhd

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-virtualbox-vhd

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vhd

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.