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

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-log is used for plain text log files. It signals that the file holds a record of events, errors, or system messages.

Because these files contain unformatted text, any basic text editor can open them. This is useful when diagnosing problems or tracking application activity.

Diagnostics: Captures error messages and events.
Troubleshooting: Helps identify issues in software or hardware.
Monitoring: Tracks system operations and performance over time.
Audit Trails: Logs user activities and system changes.

Files with this MIME type typically use the LOG extension. For more detailed technical information on MIME types, see MDN Web Docs.

Associated file extensions

.log

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-log

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.log

FAQs

How do I open a file with the text/x-log MIME type?

Since text/x-log files contain unformatted plain text, you can open them with any basic text editor. Common tools include Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, and Notepad++ or VS Code for developers.

Is text/x-log a standard IANA MIME type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that it is a non-standard or experimental subtype. While it is commonly used to identify .log files specifically, the official standard for plain text content is text/plain.

Why does my browser download .log files instead of displaying them?

This happens if the server sends the file with a generic application/octet-stream type or includes a Content-Disposition: attachment header. To force the browser to display the text inline, configure your server to send the text/x-log or text/plain header.

How do I configure Apache to serve .log files as text?

You can modify your .htaccess or server configuration file to associate the extension with the correct MIME type. Add the line AddType text/plain .log to ensure browsers render it, or AddType text/x-log .log to keep the specific type identification.

Are there security risks with exposing text/x-log files on a web server?

Yes, log files often contain sensitive information like directory paths, database errors, or user IP addresses. It is best practice to block public access to these files entirely using server rules (e.g., Require all denied in Apache) rather than serving them freely.

Should I use text/x-log or text/plain for my application logs?

If you want to ensure the file opens directly in a web browser without prompting a download, text/plain is the most compatible choice. However, using text/x-log can be helpful for client-side applications that need to distinguish specific log data from generic text files.

What is the Nginx configuration for text/x-log?

To serve files with the .log extension using this MIME type in Nginx, add text/x-log log; inside your mime.types file. Alternatively, you can force the header in a location block using default_type text/x-log;.

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.