What is MIME type "audio/s3m"?

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

The MIME type audio/s3m designates a module music file format. It stores both digital audio samples and instructions that tell a player how to mix these samples in real time. Unlike typical audio files, it doesn’t hold a full sound recording. Instead, it contains playback commands that work like musical notes and effects.

Tracker Music: Used in software that editors call trackers, where each file directs instruments, patterns, and effects.
Compact and Flexible: Its design keeps file sizes small while allowing dynamic sound manipulation.
Interactive Playback: Ideal for applications like games, demos, and electronic music where sound variation is key.

This format is one of a family of module music types. The same technology appears in similar file types such as MOD, FAR, XM, IT, STM, AMF, MED, WOW, DMF, S3M, 669, MTM, MT2, ULT, and OKT.

For a deeper dive into how module files work, see Module File Formats on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.mod, .far, .xm, .it, .stm, .amf, .med, .wow, .dmf, .s3m, .669, .mtm, .mt2, .ult, .okt

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/s3m

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/s3m">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/s3m');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.mod, .far, .xm, .it, .stm, .amf, .med, .wow, .dmf, .s3m, .669, .mtm, .mt2, .ult, .okt

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.