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

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

text/x-vbdotnet is a MIME type used for VB.NET source code. It marks files containing VB.NET code, typically with the file extension VB.

This MIME type signals programs that the file is not plain text but contains programming syntax. It lets code editors and web services apply language-specific features.

Main use case: Identifying and processing VB.NET source files.
Additional uses:
IDE integration with auto-completion and error checking.
Syntax highlighting in text editors.
Web previews for code display.

For more on MIME types and their use, check out resources on Mozilla Developer Network.

Associated file extensions

.vb

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-vbdotnet

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.vb

FAQs

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

To associate the .vb extension with this MIME type, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType text/x-vbdotnet .vb. This ensures that when a user requests a VB.NET source file, the server identifies the content type correctly.

Will a web browser execute code served as text/x-vbdotnet?

No, web browsers do not execute server-side VB.NET code. If a browser encounters a file with the text/x-vbdotnet MIME type, it will typically display the source code as text or prompt the user to download the file, depending on the Content-Disposition header.

Is text/x-vbdotnet an official standard MIME type?

No, the x- prefix indicates that it is a non-standard or experimental subtype. While it is widely recognized by certain development tools and web servers to identify .vb files, it is not officially registered with the IANA registry.

What are the security risks of serving files with this MIME type?

Serving raw source code files publicly can expose sensitive logic, database connection strings, or proprietary algorithms to the world. Generally, VB.NET code should be compiled into binaries (DLLs) on the server side rather than served raw to clients via text/x-vbdotnet.

Why does my editor treat the file as plain text?

If your editor or browser treats the file as generic text, it may not recognize the text/x-vbdotnet header or the file extension. You may need to manually select Visual Basic syntax highlighting in your editor settings to enable features like color-coding and auto-completion.

Can I use text/plain instead of text/x-vbdotnet?

Yes, text/plain is a valid fallback because VB.NET source files are human-readable text. However, using text/x-vbdotnet is more specific and helps specialized clients, such as code snippet managers or IDEs, automatically apply the correct language formatting.

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.