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

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

application/x-wtt is the MIME type for files used by WorldWide Telescope Tour software. These files define a guided tour through astronomical scenes.
They typically use an XML structure to list tour directions, camera paths, and multimedia cues. The file instructs the software on how to display images, text, and audio in sequence.

Main use case: Creating interactive, guided astronomy tours.
Additional uses: Storing multimedia narrative scripts, archiving celestial journeys, and sharing user-created tours.

The files use the WTT extension. This association ensures that systems and browsers handle the content correctly.
For more details on WorldWide Telescope and its file types, visit the WorldWide Telescope website.

Associated file extensions

.wtt

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-wtt

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.wtt

FAQs

What is the application/x-wtt MIME type used for?

The MIME type application/x-wtt is specifically used for WorldWide Telescope Tour files. These files contain XML data that orchestrates guided tours of astronomical data, including camera paths, narration, and image overlays within the WorldWide Telescope software.

How do I configure Apache to serve .wtt files correctly?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct headers for WorldWide Telescope tours, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/x-wtt .wtt. This prevents the file from being treated as generic text or binary data.

How do I set up Nginx to handle application/x-wtt?

For Nginx, you should update your mime.types file or add a specific block to your server configuration. Use the directive: types { application/x-wtt wtt; }. Reload Nginx to apply the changes.

Can web browsers open application/x-wtt files natively?

No, standard web browsers like Chrome or Firefox cannot render application/x-wtt content directly. However, the WorldWide Telescope Web Client can interpret and play these files if they are hosted correctly.

Is the application/x-wtt format binary or text-based?

Files associated with application/x-wtt are primarily XML-based text files. While they control multimedia elements, the file structure itself is human-readable markup, allowing developers to inspect tour directions in a standard text editor.

What file extension is associated with application/x-wtt?

This MIME type is almost exclusively associated with the .wtt extension. You can learn more about this extension on our wtt page.

Why does my WWT tour fail to load on my website?

If a tour fails to load, the server is often missing the application/x-wtt MIME definition. Without this, the server might send the file as text/plain or application/octet-stream, causing the WorldWide Telescope web client to reject or mishandle the data.

General 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.