What is MIME type "text/x-web-markdown"?

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-web-markdown signals that a file contains Markdown text. Markdown is a lightweight markup language. It uses simple characters to indicate formatting. This creates plain text that can be easily converted into styled documents.
Markdown files are often used in these cases:

Documentation: Project readmes and guides use Markdown for clarity.
Content Creation: Bloggers and writers use it to draft posts.
Static Site Generation: Many tools convert Markdown into full web pages.

Files with this MIME type usually have one of these extensions: MD, MARKDOWN, MKD, or MDTEXT.
The type is used mainly for text content that might be rendered on the web or converted to other formats. Its simple syntax allows users to create well-structured documents without complex software. The format bridges ease of editing with the power of HTML conversion. For further insight, see Daring Fireball Markdown.

Associated file extensions

.md, .markdown, .mkd, .mdtext

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: text/x-web-markdown

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.md, .markdown, .mkd, .mdtext

FAQs

Is text/x-web-markdown the official MIME type for Markdown?

No, the official IANA-registered media type is text/markdown. The type text/x-web-markdown is a non-standard or legacy identifier that was used by some web servers and frameworks before the official standardization occurred.

Will web browsers render text/x-web-markdown as a styled web page?

Generally, no; most modern browsers will display the file as plain text, showing the raw symbols and formatting characters. To view it as a styled document, you usually need a browser extension or a server-side script that converts the .md content into HTML.

How do I configure Apache to serve files as text/x-web-markdown?

You can enable this MIME type by adding a directive to your .htaccess file or main configuration. Use the line AddType text/x-web-markdown .md to ensure files with the .md extension are served with this specific content type headers.

Are there security risks associated with text/x-web-markdown?

The file itself is harmless plain text, but security issues can arise during conversion. If a website takes user-submitted Markdown and converts it to HTML without sanitization, it may be vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

What is the difference between text/x-web-markdown and text/html?

text/html is used for files containing HyperText Markup Language that browsers render natively as web pages. text/x-web-markdown indicates a file uses Markdown syntax, which is much simpler to read and write but requires a parsing step to become a fully styled web page.

How do I open a file with the text/x-web-markdown type?

Since these are plain text files, you can open them with any simple editor like Notepad, TextEdit, or VS Code. To see the formatted result (bolding, headers, lists), you should use a dedicated Markdown editor or previewer.

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.