What is MIME type "text/x-erlang"?

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-erlang marks files that contain Erlang source code. It informs text editors, compilers, and development tools how to handle these files.
Files such as ERL, ES, APP, XRL, HRL, APP.SRC, ESCRIPT, and YRL are handled using this MIME type.

Main use: Identify files containing Erlang source code for proper syntax highlighting and editing.
Editor support: Enables development environments to use Erlang-specific features.
Compilation: Assists build tools in recognizing and compiling Erlang modules and scripts.
Systems development: Often used in projects that build distributed and fault-tolerant systems.

For more technical details, you can explore additional resources like Erlang on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.es, .erl, .app, .xrl, .hrl, .app.src, .escript, .yrl

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-erlang

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.es, .erl, .app, .xrl, .hrl, .app.src, .escript, .yrl

FAQs

What is the text/x-erlang MIME type used for?

The MIME type text/x-erlang is used to identify source code written in the Erlang programming language. It tells text editors and web servers that the file contains code, enabling features like syntax highlighting for files with extensions like .erl and .hrl.

Which file extensions are associated with text/x-erlang?

This MIME type covers a variety of Erlang-related files. Common extensions include .erl (modules), .hrl (headers), .escript (scripts), .xrl (Leex files), and .yrl (Yecc files). It is also used for application resource files like .app and .app.src.

How do I configure Apache to serve Erlang files correctly?

You can add the MIME type definition to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Add the line AddType text/x-erlang .erl .hrl .escript to ensure the server sends the correct headers.

How do I configure Nginx for text/x-erlang?

In your nginx.conf or inside a types block, add the mapping: text/x-erlang erl hrl escript;. This ensures that when a user requests an Erlang file, Nginx serves it with the correct content type.

Why does this MIME type start with "x-"?

The x- prefix indicates that text/x-erlang is a non-standard or experimental type not strictly registered with IANA. Despite this, it is the widely accepted convention for identifying Erlang code in the developer community and on mime-type.com.

Can web browsers execute text/x-erlang files?

No, web browsers treat these files as plain text. If you navigate to an .erl file in a browser, it will simply display the source code. To run the code, you need the Erlang runtime environment (OTP) installed on your computer.

Are there security risks associated with text/x-erlang?

Viewing the files is safe, as they are just text. However, you should be cautious about executing downloaded .escript files or compiling unknown .erl modules, as they can run arbitrary commands on your system.

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.