What is MIME type "video/fli"?

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

video/fli is a MIME type that marks files created in the Autodesk FLIC Animation format. These files store frame-based animations as a sequence of images.

They were common in early multimedia and PC games. The format offers simple, low-resolution animations with a limited color palette. Most modern systems now use newer video formats, but legacy software may still support FLI files.

Animation Playback – Drives frame-based animations in multimedia apps.
Legacy Game Content – Used for animated sequences in older video games.
Simple Visual Effects – Provides basic animation functionality in early software.

This MIME type tells programs how to process and display the FLI file. For further details on the format and its history, you can consult external resources such as Wikipedia's FLIC page.

Associated file extensions

.fli

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/fli

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.fli

FAQs

What is the video/fli MIME type used for?

The video/fli MIME type represents Autodesk FLIC animation files. These files contain sequences of frame-based images and were widely used in early 1990s PC games and multimedia applications for cutscenes and simple animations.

Do modern web browsers support video/fli natively?

No, modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not support the FLI format natively. To display these animations on the web, you should convert them to modern formats like video/mp4 or image/gif.

How do I open a .fli file on Windows or Mac?

Most standard video players cannot open .fli files without additional codecs. However, the versatile VLC media player often supports legacy formats, and specialized image viewers like XnView or IrfanView can usually display the animation frames.

How do I configure Apache to serve FLI files correctly?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct header, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType video/fli .fli. This ensures browsers and download managers identify the file type correctly.

How do I add video/fli support to Nginx?

For Nginx, you need to update your mime.types file or add a types block within your server configuration. Use the following syntax: types { video/fli fli; }.

Should I use video/fli for new animation projects?

No, video/fli is an obsolete format limited to 256 colors and low resolutions. For modern web animations, use HTML5 video formats or CSS/SVG animations, which offer superior compression and quality compared to the legacy FLI format.

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

Both extensions relate to the FLIC format; .fli was the original format limited to 320x200 resolution, while .flc is a newer variation supporting higher resolutions. While video/fli is standard for the former, the MIME type video/flc is sometimes used for the latter.

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.