What is MIME type "video/flc"?

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

video/flc is a MIME type that signals a FLIC animation file.


This format holds a series of images that run in sequence. It uses delta encoding to save space by storing only differences between frames. It was developed for simple computer animations.



Files in this format use the FLC extension. For more technical insights, see resources on Autodesk Flic.

Associated file extensions

.flc

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/flc

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.flc

FAQs

What content does the video/flc MIME type represent?

The video/flc MIME type represents Autodesk Flic animations, typically associated with the .flc file extension. This is a legacy video format originally designed for 2D computer animation and CAD software in the early 1990s.

Do modern web browsers support video/flc natively?

No, major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari do not support the Flic format. To display these animations on a website, you must convert them to a modern standard like video/mp4, video/webm, or an animated GIF.

How do I configure Apache to serve .flc files?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct header, add the following line to your .htaccess file or server configuration: AddType video/flc .flc. This tells the browser to treat the file as a Flic animation rather than a generic binary download.

What is the difference between .flc and .fli files?

Both are Flic animations, but .fli is the original format limited to a 320x200 resolution. The .flc format (Flic Pro), which uses video/flc, was a later improvement that supports higher resolutions and variable frame rates.

How can I view a file sent as video/flc on Windows or Mac?

Standard media players like Windows Media Player or QuickTime may not open these files by default. You should use a versatile third-party player like VLC media player or command-line tools like FFmpeg to view or convert the content.

Why is video/flc rarely used today?

The format relies on simple delta compression (storing changes between frames), which is inefficient compared to modern codecs. It lacks audio support and is surpassed by formats like H.264 and VP9, which offer significantly better quality and compression ratios.

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.