Which MIME types are related to file extension ".dcm"?
The .dcm file extension is associated with 2 MIME types:
application/dicom, image/dicom-rle.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .dcm Files
DCM files are DICOM formatted files used for storing and exchanging medical imaging data.
They hold both the image data from devices like CT scanners, MRIs, and X-rays and key metadata such as patient details and study parameters.
They make use of MIME types application/dicom and image/dicom-rle to denote standard digital imaging formats and specific compression methods like RLE.
- Main Use: Storing diagnostic medical images for analysis and evaluation.
- Other Uses: Sharing images between medical devices and archiving patient records; integrating with hospital imaging systems.
- Key Facts: They combine image content with metadata; employed in various healthcare software like RadiAnt DICOM Viewer and OsiriX.
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/dicom, image/dicom-rle
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.