What is MIME type "text/dns"?

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

text/dns is a MIME type used for text files that store DNS zone information. These files hold the configuration data for the Domain Name System. They list records such as A, MX, NS, and others that define how domain names resolve to IP addresses.
This MIME type is primarily used for zone files like ZONE files. They are plain text files, which means you can open and edit them with any text editor.

Main use case: Configuring authoritative DNS zones.
Key facts:
- It defines DNS resource records.
- It is human-readable and easy to manage.
- It works well with DNS server software and management tools.

It provides a common format for applications to share and interpret DNS settings. For more details, check the official listing on the IANA website.

Associated file extensions

.zone

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/dns

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.zone

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.