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

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

application/x-virtualbox-vhdx is a MIME type for a specialized virtual disk image. It marks files that use the VHDX format. This format stores the complete content of a virtual machine’s hard disk.

It is used in virtualization environments like VirtualBox to simulate physical disks. The design supports large disk capacities and improved performance.

Key functionalities and uses:

Virtual machine storage: Holds operating system files, applications, and user data.
Disk emulation: Mimics physical hard disks, enabling the running of multiple operating systems on one PC.
Environment testing: Facilitates safe testing and development without affecting the host system.
Interoperability: Enables transport of a complete virtual machine across different systems.

These details make it useful for creating isolated and flexible computing setups.

Associated file extensions

.vhdx

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-virtualbox-vhdx

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vhdx

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.