What is MIME type "chemical/x-vmd"?

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

The MIME type chemical/x-vmd tags files that hold molecular data for visualizing chemical structures. These files are used by specialized software to display 3em>3D molecular models, show atom positions, and animate molecular dynamics. The file with extension VMD is a typical example.

Visualization: Software like Visual Molecular Dynamics renders 3D models of molecules.
Analysis: The format stores simulation details such as atom coordinates and bonding information.
Research: It supports studies in computational chemistry and bioinformatics by providing interactive molecular data.

The format helps scientists and technical users to investigate molecular behavior effectively. For more detailed information on VMD software, visit VMD Website.

Associated file extensions

.vmd

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: chemical/x-vmd

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vmd

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.