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

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

application/xspf+xml is a MIME type for an XML-based playlist format used by media players to store and share playlists. It defines how applications read data about media files and their play order.

Files with the extension XSPF use this format. The content inside is structured in XML, making it easy for different systems to interpret the playlist data.

Structured Data: Uses XML to clearly define playlist information.
Playlist Sharing: Helps share lists of songs, videos, or streams between media players.
Media References: Stores links, file paths, and metadata about the media.

For further details about this format, see the Wikipedia article on XSPF.

Associated file extensions

.xspf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/xspf+xml

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.xspf

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.