What is MIME type "text/matlab"?

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

The MIME type text/matlab designates files that contain MATLAB code. These files are plain text and hold instructions for computations, simulations, and data visualization in the MATLAB environment.

Files with this MIME type typically use the M extension. They are read by MATLAB to run scripts, functions, and algorithms.

Main use: Running MATLAB scripts and functions.
Practical uses: Automating numerical computations and simulations.
Additional applications: Prototyping algorithms and processing data.

Learn more about MATLAB on the official website here.

Associated file extensions

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/matlab

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

FAQs

How do I configure Apache to serve .m files as text/matlab?

You can ensure Apache serves MATLAB files with the correct headers by adding a directive to your .htaccess or main configuration file. Add the line AddType text/matlab .m to associate the extension with this MIME type.

Can web browsers execute text/matlab files directly?

No, web browsers cannot execute MATLAB code natively. If a browser navigates to a file with the text/matlab content type, it will typically display the plain text source code or prompt the user to download the file.

Why does the .m extension sometimes conflict with Objective-C?

The .m extension is shared between MATLAB scripts and Objective-C implementation files. While MATLAB uses text/matlab, Objective-C files are often identified as text/x-objcsrc. Servers must be configured carefully or rely on content sniffing to distinguish between the two.

How do I set the correct MIME type for MATLAB files in Nginx?

To configure Nginx, open your mime.types file (usually located in /etc/nginx/) and add the entry text/matlab m;. Reload the server configuration to ensure that files with the m extension are served correctly.

Is text/matlab a standard IANA MIME type?

No, text/matlab is not currently registered in the official IANA MIME type registry. It is a widely used convention, though some systems may use text/x-matlab or simply default to text/plain since the files contain human-readable code.

Is it safe to open files with the text/matlab MIME type?

Yes, viewing the file is safe because it is just plain text. However, you should only execute the script within the MATLAB environment if you trust the source, as the code can perform file system operations and computations on your machine.

What should I do if my browser downloads .m files instead of displaying them?

This usually happens if the server sends the file as application/octet-stream. To fix this, ensure your web server sends the Content-Type: text/matlab or Content-Type: text/plain header, which tells the browser to render the text inline.

General 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.