Which MIME types are related to file extension ".pas"?
The .pas file extension is associated with 2 MIME types:
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .pas Files
PAS files are used mainly for Pascal source code and, less commonly, for TheDraw Pascal screen images.
They are recognized by the MIME type text/x-pascal, which signifies that the file contains plain text code written in the Pascal programming language. This source code is typically edited with development tools such as Free Pascal, Turbo Pascal, or any simple text editor like Notepad or Sublime Text.
Occasionally, PAS files use the MIME type text/plain. In this case, the file might store a TheDraw Pascal screen image—a text-based image format used by legacy DOS applications.
- Pascal Source Code – Contains instructions written in the Pascal language for compilation and execution.
- TheDraw Screen Images – Stores text-based visual layouts created with TheDraw.
- Editing Software – Open these files with Free Pascal, Turbo Pascal, or text editing software.
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.