What is MIME type "application/xslfo+xml"?

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

The MIME type application/xslfo+xml denotes documents written in XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO). These XML files hold detailed layout rules for arranging text and graphics on pages. They act as blueprints for rendering engines that ultimately generate print-ready or PDF documents.

In many workflows, an XML source is first transformed using XSLT into an XSL-FO document. This document is then processed by a formatting engine such as Apache FOP to produce the final formatted output.

Key uses and facts:

Automated Publishing: Streamlines the conversion of raw XML data into well-formatted printed or digital documents.
PDF Generation: Serves as an intermediate step to create high-quality PDFs and PostScript outputs.
Workflow Integration: Often used in systems where XML is transformed and styled using XSLT and then rendered to meet professional printing standards.

Files utilizing this MIME type often have names ending with FO or XSLFO.

For detailed technical information, refer to the W3C XSL-FO Specification.

Associated file extensions

.fo, .xslfo

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/xslfo+xml

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/xslfo+xml">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/xslfo+xml');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.fo, .xslfo

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.