What is MIME type "video/3gpp"?

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

video/3gpp is a MIME type for multimedia files used primarily on mobile devices.
It defines how video and audio data are stored together in a compact container. This format suits low-bandwidth networks and small screens.
It is ideal for recording and playing back video from cell phones and other portable devices.

Mobile Recording: Frequently used to capture video on mobile phones.
Streaming: Supports efficient streaming over cellular networks.
Lightweight Storage: Optimized for devices with limited storage.

Files using this format include 3GP and 3GPP.
For further reading on this container, consider checking out external resources.

Associated file extensions

.3gp, .3gpp

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/3gpp

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="video/3gpp">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', 'video/3gpp');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.3gp, .3gpp

FAQs

How do I configure Apache or Nginx to serve 3GP files?

To ensure browsers recognize the file correctly, you must set the MIME type. For Apache, add AddType video/3gpp .3gp .3gpp to your .htaccess file. For Nginx, add video/3gpp 3gp 3gpp; to your mime.types configuration.

Do modern web browsers support video/3gpp natively?

Support is inconsistent across modern desktop browsers. While some mobile browsers may handle it, most HTML5 video implementations prefer video/mp4 or video/webm. For the best compatibility, convert your 3GP files to MP4 before embedding them on a website.

What is the difference between video/3gpp and video/mp4?

The video/3gpp format is a simplified version of MP4 designed specifically for 3G mobile networks to minimize bandwidth and storage usage. In contrast, video/mp4 supports higher resolutions and bitrates, making it the standard for high-quality video streaming today.

Why can't I open a .3gp file on Windows or Mac?

Default system players like Windows Media Player may lack the specific codecs required for this mobile format. You can resolve this by installing a codec pack or using a third-party player like VLC Media Player, which handles video/3gpp files natively.

Can video/3gpp be used for audio-only files?

Yes, the 3GP container can hold audio streams without video. However, if the file contains only audio, it is best practice to use the MIME type audio/3gpp instead, to inform the client that no video track is present.

Is video/3gpp still relevant for modern development?

It is primarily a legacy format used for MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and older feature phones. However, developers working with telecom gateways or backward-compatible mobile apps may still encounter video/3gpp when handling user-generated content from older devices.

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.