What is MIME type "text/x-dylan-lid"?

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

The MIME type text/x-dylan-lid marks files written in Dylan’s library interface format. It signals that the file is a text document outlining a Dylan module’s or library’s structure.

Files with this MIME type are used when working with the Dylan language. They contain metadata like function declarations, type definitions, and other interface details that help Dylan compilers and tools understand how different parts of a program connect.

Main use: Tagging Dylan interface description documents for development tools.
Practical use: Allowing editors and compilers to recognize and process Dylan library interfaces.
Technology: Since the content is plain text, any text editor can open it for review or modification.
File association: These files are usually named with the LID extension.

This MIME type is non-standard and specific to Dylan projects. It helps keep code modular and makes interactions between different program components clear. For further details on file extensions, visit Filext.com.

Associated file extensions

.lid

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-dylan-lid

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.lid

FAQs

What is the purpose of the text/x-dylan-lid MIME type?

This MIME type identifies Library Interface Description (LID) files used by the Dylan programming language. It tells compilers and development tools that the file contains a plain text list of source files and metadata defining a specific library's structure.

How do I open a file sent as text/x-dylan-lid?

Since the underlying content is plain text, you can open these files using any standard text editor like Notepad, Vim, or VS Code. While specialized Dylan tools use the structure for compilation, humans can read and edit the file manually.

How do I configure Apache to serve .lid files with this MIME type?

You can map the extension to the MIME type by adding a directive to your .htaccess file or server configuration. Add the line AddType text/x-dylan-lid .lid to ensure the server identifies the file correctly.

Why does my browser download the file instead of displaying it?

Browsers do not natively recognize text/x-dylan-lid and usually default to downloading unknown types to protect the user. To view the file in the browser, the server must send a Content-Disposition: inline header, or you can temporarily treat the file as text/plain.

Is text/x-dylan-lid a standard IANA media type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that this is a non-standard or private subtype. It is used specifically within the Dylan community and is not officially registered with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

What is the relationship between text/x-dylan-lid and .dylan files?

Files with the .lid extension (using this MIME type) act as project manifests or makefiles. They list the actual source code files (often .dylan) that need to be compiled together to form a library.

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.