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

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

The MIME type image/x-wmf signals a Windows Metafile image format originally designed for Windows 3.x systems. It is used to store graphics through vector instructions rather than fixed pixels.

• Main use: Embedding images, icons, or clip art in documents and older Windows applications.
• Key fact: Instead of storing a static bitmap, it contains drawing instructions that let the system render the graphic when needed.
• Key fact: Although mostly replaced by modern formats like PNG and SVG, it still appears in legacy files and specific Windows contexts.

This MIME type is tied to the WMF file format. For more details on this legacy image format, visit the discussion on Windows Metafile in Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.wmf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: image/x-wmf
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.wmf