What is MIME type "audio/amr"?

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

audio/amr is a MIME type for audio files that use the Adaptive Multi-Rate codec. It is built to compress speech efficiently for mobile communications.

Main use case: Transmitting voice calls over mobile networks.
Other uses: Storing voice recordings and audio in video files for messaging.
Key benefit: It offers clear voice quality at low bitrates, saving bandwidth.

Files like 3GP, AMR, and 3GA commonly use this MIME type.
For more details, see the resources at IANA Media Types and Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.3gp, .amr, .3ga

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/amr

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/amr">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', 'audio/amr');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.3gp, .amr, .3ga

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.