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

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-povray defines plain text files for POV-Ray scene descriptions. These files contain commands and parameters that build 3em>3D scenes used by the POV-Ray renderer.

Files with this MIME type hold instructions for objects, lights, camera angles, textures, and more. They steer how the rendering engine creates detailed images.

Common uses include:

Main rendering setup – Describes scene elements like camera, light, and shapes.
File inclusion – Enables reusing or modularizing scene components.
Scripting for animations – Controls dynamic parameters for animated sequences.
Editing with text editors – Easy to modify due to its plain text nature.

Files using this format often come with extensions such as INC or POV.

For more details on POV-Ray and its scene description language, visit the POV-Ray Official Site.

Associated file extensions

.inc, .pov

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-povray

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.inc, .pov

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.