What is MIME type "audio/opus"?

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

audio/opus is the official MIME type for audio streams that use the Opus codec.
It compresses sound with low latency and high quality. This makes it ideal for both voice and music in dynamic network conditions.

Key Facts and Use Cases:

Real-Time Communication: Optimized for VoIP, video conferencing, and live streaming.
Music Streaming: Provides crisp audio at low bitrates while maintaining clarity.
Multimedia Integration: Often found embedded in containers such as OGG and OPUS.

It dynamically adjusts compression based on the audio content and available bandwidth. This adaptability results in efficient data use and improved user experiences.
Further technical details are available at Opus Codec.

Associated file extensions

.ogg, .opus

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/opus

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.ogg, .opus

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.