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

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

text/x-fortran is the MIME type for files containing Fortran source code.
It tells programs and text editors that the file holds plain text with Fortran-specific syntax. This supports proper formatting and syntax highlighting.

Helps compilers correctly process Fortran code.
Guides IDEs and text editors to apply language-specific features.
Supports both the fixed-form and free-form styles of the language.

Files marked with this MIME type include those with formats like F90, F, FOR, F03, FPP, F08, F77, and F95.

For more details on Fortran and MIME types, see Fortran on Wikipedia and MIME types on MDN.

Associated file extensions

.f90, .f, .for, .f03, .fpp, .f08, .f77, .f95

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-fortran

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.f90, .f, .for, .f03, .fpp, .f08, .f77, .f95

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.