What is MIME type "multipart/x-tar"?

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

multipart/x-tar is a MIME type that signals an archive bundled in separate segments.
It is used to combine many files and directories into one package while retaining the data structure and file metadata.
This format allows software to treat each part of the archive individually yet as a cohesive unit.

File Archiving: Combines multiple files into a single archive.
Backup and Distribution: Ideal for grouping files for backups or transferring software packages.
Data Preservation: Retains original file structures and permissions within one container.

Although the more common MIME type for such archives is often application/x-tar, some systems use multipart/x-tar when the archive is segmented into parts, which can assist with streaming or incremental transfers.
Users typically work with this type when handling TAR archives on their PCs.
This MIME type helps archiving tools and file managers know exactly how to process and extract the individual parts of the archive.

Associated file extensions

.tar

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: multipart/x-tar

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.tar

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.