What is MIME type "image/x-farbfeld"?

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

image/x-farbfeld is the MIME type for the farbfeld image format. It is a raw, lossless format.
The format has a fixed header and stores pixels as simple uncompressed data. The header contains a magic string and the image's dimensions. Each pixel is stored as 16-bit red, green, blue, and alpha channels in big-endian order.
This design makes the format extremely simple to read and write. It is not optimized for storage size but shines in its clarity and ease-of-use.

Key Fact: Uses a predefined header and raw pixel data.
Key Fact: Stores image dimensions and pixel data in big-endian order.
Use Case: Ideal for testing image processing tools and debugging image pipelines.
Use Case: Serves as an intermediary format in image conversion workflows.

Files using this MIME type usually have the extension FF.
For more details, see further documentation at this project repository.

Associated file extensions

.ff

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: image/x-farbfeld

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.ff

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.