Which MIME types are related to file extension ".dat"?

The .dat file extension is associated with 9 MIME types:

application/dbase, application/dbf, application/octet-stream, text/plain, text/xml, application/x-ms-registry, application/ms-tnef, application/vnd.ms-tnef, application/x-ldraw.

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

About .dat Files

DAT files are versatile data containers used by many programs.
They can hold different kinds of information based on their MIME type. According to FilExt.com, these files may be used for mapping, databases, binary images, registry settings, and more.

MapInfo Data Files: Using application/dbase or application/dbf, they store geographic or tabular data.
Binary Data: With application/octet-stream, they can hold generic binary information such as an Oric Tape image.
Plain Text Formats: The text/plain MIME type indicates simple text files, like an AAE RomList format.
XML Data: With text/xml, they may contain structured information as seen in the Logiqx XML Format.
Registry Files: The application/x-ms-registry type is used for Windows NT Registry Hive data.
Encapsulated Data: MIME types application/ms-tnef and application/vnd.ms-tnef are for Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format files, often seen in email attachments.
LDraw Files: The application/x-ldraw MIME type is associated with LEGO part design files.

DAT files are opened by various software depending on their content. For example, GIS programs like MapInfo handle MapInfo data files, text editors open the plain text or XML files, and Windows Registry Editor manages registry hives. Specialized applications may be needed for TNEF or LDraw files.

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/dbase, application/dbf, application/octet-stream, text/plain, text/xml, application/x-ms-registry, application/ms-tnef, application/vnd.ms-tnef, application/x-ldraw

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.