What is MIME type "audio/mp4a-latm"?

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

audio/mp4a-latm is a MIME type that signals audio encoded with Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) inside a low-overhead transport multiplex. It uses the LATM (Low-overhead MPEG-4 Audio Transport Multiplex) format to package the compressed audio data efficiently.

This format is ideal for streaming and mobile playback because it minimizes extra data overhead while maintaining quality. Devices and applications that support AAC decoding can quickly identify and process the audio when they see this MIME type.

Main use: It enables smooth streaming of high-quality audio over networks.
Efficiency: It lowers latency and minimizes bandwidth, which is useful in mobile and online environments.
Compatibility: Media players, encoders, and web applications recognize this MIME type and use the proper decoding methods.

It is commonly used in multimedia containers such as MP4, M4A, 3GP, AAC, M4B, and M4P.

For further technical details, see the article on MPEG-4 AAC.

Associated file extensions

.mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .aac, .m4b, .m4p

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/mp4a-latm

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/mp4a-latm">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/mp4a-latm');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .aac, .m4b, .m4p

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.