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

The .img file extension is associated with 14 MIME types:

application/x-raw-disk-image, application/x-erdas-hfa, application/x-qemu-disk, application/octet-stream, text/plain, image/x-artmaster, application/x-apple-diskimage, image/x-davinci, image/vicar, image/x-alias-pix, application/gem, application/vnd.efi.img, application/vnd.efi.iso, application/x-iso9660-image.

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

About .img Files

IMG files are versatile containers for different types of data. They often hold exact copies of storage media or specialized image information.

Disk and Optical Images: They can be raw disk images used for cloning or backups. MIME types like application/x-raw-disk-image, application/vnd.efi.img, application/vnd.efi.iso, and application/x-iso9660-image indicate such uses. Programs like VirtualBox, Daemon Tools, or disk utility apps support them.
Virtual Machine Images: Some IMG files are virtual disks (e.g. QEMU’s qcow format via application/x-qemu-disk). These are essential for running virtual machines with tools like QEMU or VirtualBox.
Raster/Bitmap Images: Other IMG files store bitmap data. MIME types such as application/x-erdas-hfa (ERDAS IMAGINE format), text/plain (Dore Raster), image/x-artmaster, image/x-davinci, image/vicar, image/x-alias-pix, and application/gem show usage in graphics, geospatial imaging, or artistic applications. These files are often opened by industry-specific software like ERDAS IMAGINE or other graphics programs.
Apple Disk Images: The application/x-apple-diskimage MIME type signifies that some IMG files are used by Apple systems. They work with Apple Disk Utility and similar apps.
Other Uses: A few IMG files may appear as generic binary streams (application/octet-stream), sometimes linked to misclassified or infected files.

Each IMG file’s use depends on its MIME type and intended application.
According to FilExt.com, selecting the right tool is key to viewing or editing these 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

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.