What is MIME type "application/x-wais-source"?
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
application/x-wais-source is a MIME type for files used in the WAIS system. It designates a text-based source file that contains data or commands for document indexing and search retrieval.WAIS, short for Wide Area Information Servers, was an early system for full-text searching across distributed databases. Files with this MIME type help drive the search engineโs configuration and indexing processes.
- Main use case: The file stores source data that WAIS systems use to parse, index, and search documents.
- Additional uses: It can hold configuration settings or metadata. It may be part of legacy systems that still rely on WAIS protocols.
- Technical note: The prefix โx-โ marks this MIME type as experimental or non-standard, meaning it was designed for specific, often historical, purposes.
Files labeled with this MIME type are typically saved with the SRC extension. For further details on MIME types and legacy file formats, you may consult resources such as IANA Media Types.
Associated file extensions
Usage Examples
HTTP Header
When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:
Content-Type: application/x-wais-source
HTML
In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:
<a href="file.dat" type="application/x-wais-source">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-wais-source');
res.end('Content here');
}).listen(3000);
Associated file extensions
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.