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

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-pdf is associated with files in the PDF family. Although modern systems normally use application/pdf for these documents, some legacy setups or specific applications may refer to them with this alternative type.

Main Use: It informs software and web servers that the file is a portable document. This helps in choosing the right program to display or print the document.
Legacy Compatibility: Older applications or configurations expecting text-based MIME types might still use text/x-pdf even though files in this format are binary.
Additional Uses: It can be recognized in scenarios like email attachments, direct file downloads, or embedded document viewers on web pages.

Its purpose is to classify and handle PDF documents correctly, ensuring that the content is processed for display, print, or further interaction. For more details on the document format, see Wikipedia: PDF.

Associated file extensions

.pdf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-pdf

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.pdf

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.