Which MIME types are related to file extension ".hst"?
The .hst file extension is associated with 1 MIME types:
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .hst Files
HST files are binary history files used by the Quarterdeck Mosaic browser.
They store information about visited websites and browsing sessions in a format that is not meant to be human-readable. The MIME type application/octet-stream indicates that these files contain general binary data.
- Main Purpose: To record browsing history for the Quarterdeck Mosaic browser.
- MIME Detail: Uses application/octet-stream, a generic binary file type.
- Associated Software: Opened with the original Quarterdeck Mosaic application or specialized binary viewers.
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
FAQs
What is a .hst file?
A .hst file is primarily a history log generated by the legacy web browser Quarterdeck Mosaic. It stores binary data regarding visited websites and previous browsing sessions. Because the software is obsolete, these files are typically found only on older computer archives or backups.
How do I open a .hst file?
To view the file as intended, you would need the original Quarterdeck Mosaic application running on a compatible legacy operating system. Since the file is binary, opening it in a standard text editor will result in unreadable characters, though a Hex Editor can be used to inspect the raw data.
Can I convert .hst files to text or HTML?
There are no modern standard tools designed to convert Quarterdeck Mosaic history files to readable text or HTML. You may be able to extract specific URLs by opening the file in a robust text editor like Notepad++ and searching for text strings amidst the binary code.
Why is the MIME type for .hst application/octet-stream?
The MIME type application/octet-stream is a generic identifier for binary files that do not have a specific, recognized subtype. It indicates to the system that the file contains arbitrary binary data. You can learn more about this generic type at application/octet-stream.
Is it safe to delete .hst files?
Yes, deleting a .hst file is generally safe and will simply remove the browsing history associated with that specific session. These are passive data files and are not critical system files required for your operating system to run.
Are there other programs that use the .hst extension?
Yes, file extensions are often reused by different developers. For instance, the trading platform MetaTrader 4 uses .hst files to store historical price data. If you do not have Quarterdeck Mosaic, your file is likely associated with financial charting software.
General 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.