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

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

image/x-quicktime is a MIME type used to identify files in the QuickTime File Format. It tells applications to treat the file as a QuickTime container that can hold multimedia data.

Files with this MIME type may include video, audio, or image data, and they are processed using QuickTime components.

Main use case: It signals systems and browsers to load QuickTime handlers for playback, editing, and streaming media content.

Key facts and use cases:

Container capabilities: Combines video, audio, and images into one file.
Media integration: Supports synchronized playback of multiple data tracks.
Legacy support: Although video/quicktime is more common today, image/x-quicktime persists in older systems and some specialized workflows.

Files associated with this MIME type include formats like MOV, MP3, QIF, M4P, QT, QTI, and QTIF. Each of these plays a role in handling media data in different environments.

For more on QuickTime and its file structure, see the QuickTime Wikipedia page.

Associated file extensions

.mov, .mp3, .qif, .m4p, .qt, .qti, .qtif

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: image/x-quicktime

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.mov, .mp3, .qif, .m4p, .qt, .qti, .qtif

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.