What is MIME type "font/x-postscript-pfb"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

The MIME type font/x-postscript-pfb marks a binary file that holds PostScript Type 1 font data. It stores vector outlines. These outlines instruct software on how to draw each character with precision.

This type of file is typically recognized by the extension PFB.

For further details, see the official MIME type registry.

Associated file extensions

.pfb

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: font/x-postscript-pfb

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="font/x-postscript-pfb">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'font/x-postscript-pfb');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.pfb

FAQs

Can I use .pfb files directly in CSS @font-face rules?

No, modern web browsers do not natively support PostScript Type 1 fonts (.pfb) for web rendering. To use these fonts on a website, you must convert them to a web-standard format like WOFF or WOFF2 and serve them with the appropriate MIME types.

How do I configure Apache to serve PFB files correctly?

You need to map the extension to the MIME type in your .htaccess or main configuration file. Add the line AddType font/x-postscript-pfb .pfb to ensure browsers and download managers recognize the PFB file type correctly.

What is the difference between font/x-postscript-pfb and .pfa files?

While both are PostScript Type 1 fonts, PFB (Printer Font Binary) stores data in a compact binary format, whereas PFA (Printer Font ASCII) uses text-based hex encoding. The MIME type font/x-postscript-pfb is specifically for the binary version, which is more common on Windows systems.

How do I add support for this MIME type in Nginx?

Edit your mime.types file, typically found in /etc/nginx/. Add the entry font/x-postscript-pfb pfb; inside the types block, then restart or reload Nginx to allow it to serve PFB files with the correct header.

Why does the MIME type include an 'x-' prefix?

The x- prefix in font/x-postscript-pfb indicates that it is a non-standard or extension type not originally defined in the primary IANA standards. However, it is the de facto standard used by servers and applications to identify binary PostScript font files.

What usually happens if a user clicks a link to a file served as font/x-postscript-pfb?

Since browsers cannot render this format natively, they will typically trigger a file download dialog. The user will then need to install the font on their local operating system to view or use it in desktop applications.

General 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 are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.