Which MIME types are related to file extension ".exe"?
The .exe file extension is associated with 7 MIME types:
application/x-dosexec, application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable, application/octet-stream, text/plain, application/efi, application/x-ms-dos-executable, application/x-msdos-program.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .exe Files
EXE files are executable programs that run on Windows and DOS systems.
They contain compiled machine code that your PC loads directly to perform tasks.
Their main MIME type is application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable, which defines the current Windows format.
Other MIME types indicate variations or legacy formats:
- application/x-dosexec – Used for DOS/Windows executables.
- application/octet-stream – A generic binary stream, sometimes applied to Sony Playstation executables.
- text/plain – Occasionally seen with fake EXE placeholders, like those from RARBG torrents.
- application/efi – Refers to EFI-based portable executables used in boot processes.
- application/x-ms-dos-executable and application/x-msdos-program – Indicate older DOS MZ executables.
Programs like Microsoft Visual Studio can generate them, and the Windows operating system runs them directly.
They may also be inspected by antivirus software before execution as a safety step.
Based on information from FilExt.com, EXE files are a core component of the Windows software ecosystem.
Always ensure you trust the file source before running an EXE to avoid security risks.
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/x-dosexec, application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable, application/octet-stream, text/plain, application/efi, application/x-ms-dos-executable, application/x-msdos-program
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.