Which MIME types are related to file extension ".seq"?
The .seq file extension is associated with 2 MIME types:
text/x-fasta, application/octet-stream.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .seq Files
SEQ files are files that store sequence data used in bioinformatics.
They come in two common formats based on their MIME types:
- Text Format – This format uses the FASTA database standard (MIME type text/x-fasta). The file is plain text and typically contains sequences like DNA or proteins. It starts with a ">" symbol followed by an identifier and the sequence data. Many bioinformatics tools, such as BLAST or ClustalW, can open and process these files.
- Binary Format – Identified by the MIME type application/octet-stream, this version stores sequence data in a binary form. It is less human-readable and usually requires specialized software to properly interpret and display the contained information.
SEQ files are mainly used by scientists and researchers to manage and analyze sequence information. Specialized sequence viewing and editing applications are needed to work with them efficiently.
According to FilExt.com, these files are integral to storing and sharing biological sequence data in both simple text and binary formats.
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
text/x-fasta, 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.