What is MIME type "application/x-wtml"?

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

application/x-wtml is a MIME type for files used in the WorldWide Telescope application. It works with a specialized markup language that organizes astronomical data. The files tell the software which images, objects, and links to display. They use a text-based format to arrange data in a way that the telescope software can read and render views of the cosmos.

Main use case: Enables the WorldWide Telescope to load and display collections of astronomical data.
Data linking: Connects various images, metadata, and resources into one coherent collection.
Metadata support: Holds descriptions and properties for stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects.

Files using this MIME type have the extension WTML. The x- prefix indicates a non-standard type reserved for vendor-specific or experimental use.

For further details on file formats and extensions, visit Filext.

Associated file extensions

.wtml

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-wtml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.wtml

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.