What is MIME type "model/vnd.vtu"?

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

model/vnd.vtu is a MIME type used for representing 3D model data in unstructured grid form. It is specifically tied to the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) and is used in scientific and engineering visualizations.
Files that use this MIME type typically have the extension VTU. These files store complex data including points, cells, and connectivity information that describe a 3D grid.

This format is ideal for representing unstructured grids from simulations.
It is widely used in computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis.
It supports accurate transmission of geometric and attribute data.
It facilitates data exchange between various visualization tools and simulation software.

For further details on the toolkit that uses this MIME type, check out the VTK website.

Associated file extensions

.vtu

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: model/vnd.vtu

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vtu

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.