What is MIME type "text/markdown"?

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

The MIME type text/markdown tells programs that the file contains plain text enhanced with Markdown formatting. It signals simple symbols are embedded to indicate headings, links, lists, and other text structure. Use of this type means the content can be easily converted to HTML or other formats.

Lightweight Formatting – Uses minimal symbols to apply styles like bold, italics, and headers.
Conversion Friendly – Easily transformed into HTML for websites or documentation.
Wide Adoption – Commonly used in code repositories, wikis, and technical guides.
Readable and Editable – Designed to be simple to write and understand, even without conversion.

Files marked as text/markdown commonly use extensions such as MD, MARKDOWN, MKD, MARKDN, MDOWN, MDTEXT, and MDTXT.

Associated file extensions

.md, .markdown, .mkd, .markdn, .mdown, .mdtext, .mdtxt

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/markdown

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.md, .markdown, .mkd, .markdn, .mdown, .mdtext, .mdtxt

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.