Which MIME types are related to file extension ".xlsx"?
The .xlsx file extension is associated with 4 MIME types:
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.document, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.document.
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .xlsx Files
XLSX files are spreadsheet documents stored in the Office Open XML format. They hold data in tables with formulas, charts, and text.
They use a structured XML system enclosed in a ZIP package. This design makes the data easier to parse and share.
These files follow standards like ISO/IEC 29500 and ECMA 376, which fall under the OOXML Format Family.
The primary MIME type is application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet. Other related MIME types—such as application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.document, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document, and application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.document—indicate different strictness levels or aspects of the format as used since 2007.
- Primarily used for business data, financial modeling, and statistical analysis
- Opened and edited with Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and Google Sheets
- Designed for complex calculations and data visualizations
- MIME types help software and browsers correctly identify and process the file
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/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.document, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.document
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.