Which MIME types are related to file extension ".pdb"?
The .pdb file extension is associated with 4 MIME types:
chemical/x-pdb, application/vnd.palm, application/octet-stream, application/x-ms-pdb.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .pdb Files
PDB files are used in several different ways depending on their MIME type.
- Chemical Data: The MIME type chemical/x-pdb is linked to the Brookhaven Protein Databank. These files store protein and molecule structure data. Programs like PyMOL, Jmol, and RasMol are used to view this information.
- Palm OS Databases: The MIME type application/vnd.palm shows that some PDB files work as databases on Palm OS. They often store contacts, calendars, or other records. Palm Desktop software or compatible emulators open these files.
- HP Phone/Database Files: The MIME type application/octet-stream indicates a generic binary format. In this case, PDB files may serve as databases for HP phones, keeping notes or contact data. Specific vendor applications are needed for proper use.
- Microsoft Program DataBase: The MIME type application/x-ms-pdb relates to debugging information for Windows programs. These files, used by Visual Studio, store symbols and mapping info. Developers rely on them to trace and fix errors in their applications.
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
chemical/x-pdb, application/vnd.palm, application/octet-stream, application/x-ms-pdb
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.