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

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

application/x-virtualbox-vmdk is a MIME type for virtual disk images in VirtualBox. It signals a file that simulates a physical hard drive for a virtual machine.

These files store structured disk data. They hold partitions, file systems, and operating system files. This data lets a virtual system boot and run like it would on a real computer.

The file is typically saved with the VMDK extension. Although this format is common across virtual platforms, the VirtualBox variant may include extra metadata for optimized performance.

For more details on VirtualBox disk images, visit the VirtualBox Documentation. Learn more about MIME types at MDN Web Docs.

Associated file extensions

.vmdk

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-virtualbox-vmdk

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vmdk

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.