What is MIME type "chemical/x-mdl-sdfile"?

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

Chemical/x-mdl-sdfile is a MIME type for files that hold chemical structure data. These files store information about molecules and their properties in a structured, plain text format.

Main use case: To exchange and store chemical structure data for analysis, modeling, and database records.

Research: Provides a format for scientists to share molecular structures.
Drug discovery: Supports data exchange in pharmaceutical design software.
Cheminformatics applications: Feeds data into tools for molecular modeling and simulation.

This MIME type is commonly associated with the SDF file format. Each file can include multiple entries, where each entry holds details such as atom coordinates, bond connections, and additional molecular properties.

Practical functionality involves enabling different software tools to read and interpret chemical data in a standard way, which is crucial for collaborative research and accurate modeling. For more details on how this file format is used and its technical structure, check external resources like the SDF file format page.

Associated file extensions

.sdf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: chemical/x-mdl-sdfile

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="chemical/x-mdl-sdfile">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', 'chemical/x-mdl-sdfile');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.sdf

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.