What is MIME type "text/x-server-parsed-html"?

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

text/x-server-parsed-html is a MIME type used for web files that need special processing on the server.
It signals that the document contains Server Side Includes (SSI)—small commands embedded in the HTML that the server reads.
Before sending the page to your browser, the server parses these directives to insert or modify content dynamically.

Dynamic Content: SSI commands allow parts of the page (like headers or footers) to be updated from a single file.
Efficient Maintenance: Changes in one include file can update many pages automatically.
Simplified Development: Developers can reuse code and reduce redundancy across web pages.

Files using this MIME type often have extensions such as STM, SHTML, SHT, and SHTM.
This setup is common in web servers that support SSI, allowing for more modular and dynamic HTML content.
Additional details on SSI can be found at Server Side Includes on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.stm, .shtml, .sht, .shtm

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-server-parsed-html

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.stm, .shtml, .sht, .shtm

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.