What is MIME type "audio/x-pn-wav"?

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

audio/x-pn-wav is a MIME type that marks files with raw audio data stored in a specific container.
This type tells systems and browsers to treat the file as sound data, usually in uncompressed Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) form and wrapped in a RIFF structure.
It is central to the playback, editing, and distribution of high-quality audio.

Main use case: Identifying files for accurate audio rendering without prior conversion.
Technical detail: Handles storage of sampled audio, preserving sound quality.
Platform usage: Commonly recognized on Windows, multimedia apps, and web servers.
File formats: Used by files such as .WAV and .WAVE.

This MIME type aids proper handling of audio files during transfer and playback. For more technical insights, see MIME types on MDN.

Associated file extensions

.wav, .wave

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/x-pn-wav

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.wav, .wave

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.