Which MIME types are related to file extension ".cel"?
The .cel file extension is associated with 3 MIME types:
application/octet-stream, image/x-kiss-cel, text/plain.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .cel Files
CEL files are multifaceted and can contain different types of data based on their MIME types.
Application/octet-stream is used for Chasm CEL bitmap files. These files store image data in a binary format. They are designed for specialized graphics software that handles raw bitmap data.
Image/x-kiss-cel denotes the KiSS CEL 4-bit format. This file type holds low-color images with a 4-bit color depth. It is common in niche or retro graphics applications where simple images are needed.
Text/plain is linked to the Affymetrix CEL file format. These files keep microarray data in plain text. They are fundamental in bioinformatics. Programs like Affymetrix’s own analysis software can open and process these files.
- Chasm CEL bitmap: Binary image format; used in specialized image applications.
- KiSS CEL 4-bit: Low-color graphics format; ideal for niche or retro software.
- Affymetrix CEL: Plain text format; stores microarray gene expression data for bioinformatics.
According to FilExt.com, each MIME type signals how the same extension .CEL is used in different software environments.
Relationship between file extension and MIME type
A file extension is a suffix at the end of a filename that indicates what type of file it is. File extensions help both users and operating systems identify what application should be used to open the file.
File extensions are typically separated from the filename by a period (dot) and consist of 2-4 characters, though they can be longer. For example, in the filename "document.pdf", ".pdf" is the file extension.
File extensions are closely related to MIME types, as they both serve to identify the format of a file. However, while MIME types are used primarily by web browsers and servers, file extensions are used by operating systems and applications.
Associated MIME types
application/octet-stream, image/x-kiss-cel, text/plain
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 can one extension have multiple MIME types?
Different programs and historical usage may assign various MIME identifiers to the same file format. Listing them together helps maintain compatibility across tools.