What is MIME type "image/vnd-wap-wbmp"?

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

image/vnd-wap-wbmp is the MIME type for Wireless Bitmap images. These images are designed for mobile systems with low memory and bandwidth.

This format uses a simple bitmap structure. It supports only two colors—black and white—which keeps file sizes small. The design fits wireless applications and early mobile devices that relied on the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

Key details include:

Main use case: Displaying images on mobile and embedded devices using minimal resources.
Efficiency: Creates tiny files that load quickly on limited hardware.
Application: Used in mobile web pages and messaging systems.

Files in this format use the extension WBMP. This link provides more details about the file extension and its usage.

Associated file extensions

.wbmp

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: image/vnd-wap-wbmp

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="image/vnd-wap-wbmp">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', 'image/vnd-wap-wbmp');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.wbmp

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.