Which MIME types are related to file extension ".php"?
The .php file extension is associated with 4 MIME types:
application/x-httpd-php, text/x-php, application/octet-stream, text/html.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .php Files
PHP files are server-side scripts used to build dynamic websites. They combine code and markup to produce interactive, data-driven pages. The PHP interpreter processes these files on the server and outputs standard HTML that browsers display.
MIME type details:
- application/x-httpd-php: Signals that the file is a PHP script (or even a Hack script in certain environments). It tells the server to execute the code.
- text/x-php: Indicates plain text containing PHP code. This label helps text editors and development tools recognize and highlight PHP syntax.
- text/html: Used when the PHP file outputs HTML content. After processing, the server sends the result as a standard web page.
- application/octet-stream: A generic binary type sometimes assigned. In rare cases, it is used for non-standard applications like a PhotoParade slideshow.
Main use cases:
- Building dynamic websites with interactive content.
- Handling back-end server tasks, such as database interactions and form processing.
- Generating HTML content on the fly after processing business logic.
PHP files can be opened and edited with various tools such as Visual Studio Code, Notepad++, or Sublime Text. They run on local server environments like XAMPP or WAMP, as well as on live web servers with PHP support.
Based on information from FilExt.com, PHP files are crucial for web development, providing the functionality behind dynamic, interactive websites.
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
application/x-httpd-php, text/x-php, application/octet-stream, text/html
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.