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

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

text/x-gfm is a MIME type for GitHub Flavored Markdown. It signals that a file contains markdown text enriched with GitHub’s extra syntax.

This MIME type improves the basic markdown language by supporting features like:

• Enhanced Formatting: It adds support for tables, task lists, and strikethrough.
• Consistent Rendering: Files display uniformly across tools that recognize GitHub’s markdown.
• Improved Linking: Automatic link recognition helps with URL formatting and reference linking.

It is commonly applied to files ending with extensions such as MD, RMD, MARKDOWN, MDX, SCD, MKD, SVX, QMD, WORKBOOK, LIVEMD, MDOWN, MDWN, MKDN, MKDOWN, and RONN.

This type is key for projects hosted on GitHub and similar platforms. Editors that support markdown use it to trigger live previews and proper rendering.

Learn more about GitHub Flavored Markdown at GitHub GFM Documentation.

Associated file extensions

.md, .rmd, .markdown, .mdx, .scd, .mkd, .svx, .qmd, .workbook, .livemd, .mdown, .mdwn, .mkdn, .mkdown, .ronn

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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

    Content-Type: text/x-gfm
  

HTML

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

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

Associated file extensions

.md, .rmd, .markdown, .mdx, .scd, .mkd, .svx, .qmd, .workbook, .livemd, .mdown, .mdwn, .mkdn, .mkdown, .ronn