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 defines the Wireless Bitmap image format. It is a simple, monochrome (black and white) format designed for low-bandwidth environments and mobile devices.

This MIME type is used mainly for displaying images on legacy mobile web pages and applications that use the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Its low resource usage makes it ideal for devices with limited processing power.

Main use: Mobile content and early mobile web access.
Key fact: It stores images using only 1 bit per pixel.
Practical usage: It optimizes performance on low-bandwidth networks.

Files in this format are often identified as WBMP. For additional details on file attributes and modern usage, visit the external reference.

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.