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

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

text/x-nfo is a MIME type for plain text files that often carry release information and artwork.
It is mainly used by groups distributing digital media and software.

Metadata: Provides details like release version, credits, or copyright info.
ASCII Art: Often includes decorative text and graphic elements made using characters.

Files with this MIME type typically use the file extension NFO.
They are viewed in plain text editors, though specialized viewers may better display the intended layout.
For more technical details, check out the MIME standard page.

Associated file extensions

.nfo

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-nfo

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.nfo

FAQs

What is the primary file extension for text/x-nfo?

The primary file extension associated with this MIME type is .nfo. These files are plain text documents often used to store release information or ASCII art metadata alongside software and media.

Why does Windows open .nfo files with System Information instead of a text editor?

By default, Windows associates the .nfo extension with its built-in System Information tool (msinfo32.exe). To view the content as intended, you must manually change the file association to a text editor like Notepad, Notepad++, or a specialized NFO viewer.

How do I configure Apache to serve .nfo files correctly?

You can ensure Apache serves these files with the correct MIME type by adding a directive to your .htaccess or httpd.conf file. Use the line AddType text/x-nfo .nfo to map the extension.

How do I add text/x-nfo support to an Nginx server?

In Nginx, you should update your mime.types file or your server block configuration. Add the entry text/x-nfo nfo; inside the types { ... } block to ensure browsers recognize the file type correctly.

Why does the ASCII art in my NFO file look broken in the browser?

NFO files often rely on an old character encoding called Code Page 437 (CP437) to display block characters for art. If a browser interprets the file as standard UTF-8 or ISO-8859-1, the graphic characters will appear as random symbols or question marks.

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

No, the x- prefix indicates that text/x-nfo is a non-standard or experimental subtype. While widely used by the community, the official standardized MIME type for plain text is generally just text/plain.

Are there security risks associated with text/x-nfo files?

Generally, text/x-nfo files are safe because they contain only plain text and cannot execute code. However, malicious actors sometimes disguise executable files with double extensions (e.g., filename.nfo.exe), so users should always verify the actual file type before opening it.

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.