Which MIME types are related to file extension ".pgm"?
The .pgm file extension is associated with 5 MIME types:
image/x-portable-graymap, image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-portable-pixmap, application/octet-stream.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .pgm Files
PGM files are grayscale image files that use the Portable GrayMap format.
They are part of the Netpbm family. This family also includes formats like portable anymap, portable bitmap, and portable pixmap.
The primary MIME type is image/x-portable-graymap, which shows that these files are meant for storing grayscale pictures.
Some systems may use additional MIME types such as image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, or image/x-portable-pixmap to signal compatibility with other Netpbm formats.
At times, they are labeled with application/octet-stream if the file is treated as generic binary data.
- Main use: Storing grayscale images for quick processing and simple image display.
- Other uses: Image conversion and experimentation in research and open-source projects.
- Software: Programs like GIMP, ImageMagick, IrfanView, and other image viewers/editors can open 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
image/x-portable-graymap, image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-portable-pixmap, application/octet-stream
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.