What is MIME type "video/x-indeo"?

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

video/x-indeo is a MIME type for files encoded with the Indeo video codec.
It tells your system how to treat the data inside the file. The codec compresses video so players can decode and playback the content.
Files using this format typically have the extension IVF.

Used in digital video playback by multimedia applications.
Common in older systems and legacy software setups.
Helps media players correctly decode and display video streams.
Was popular for early streaming and video editing tasks.

While the Indeo format is less common today, it remains part of video archives and older computer systems. For more on MIME types, visit MDN Web Docs on MIME types.

Associated file extensions

.ivf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/x-indeo

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.ivf

FAQs

What is the video/x-indeo MIME type?

The MIME type video/x-indeo represents video files encoded using the Indeo codec, often associated with the .ivf file extension. Originally developed by Intel, this format was popular in the 1990s for CD-ROM games and early digital video but is now considered a legacy format.

How do I open a file with the video/x-indeo content type?

Because Indeo is an older codec, standard operating system players may not support it out of the box. You generally need a versatile third-party player like VLC media player or MPlayer, which include built-in decoders for video/x-indeo streams.

Do modern web browsers support video/x-indeo?

No, modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) do not support the Indeo codec natively via the HTML5 <video> element. If you need to display this video on a website, you must convert the file to a widely supported format like video/mp4 or video/webm.

How do I add support for .ivf files on an Apache server?

To ensure your server sends the correct video/x-indeo header for Indeo files, add the following line to your .htaccess file or httpd.conf: AddType video/x-indeo .ivf. This helps client applications identify the file type correctly before attempting download or playback.

Is video/x-indeo an official IANA standard?

No, the x- prefix indicates that video/x-indeo is a non-standard or experimental subtype. While it was a de facto standard for Indeo files, it is not officially registered with the IANA like video/mpeg or video/h264.

Why does Windows warn me about security when using Indeo codecs?

Older versions of the Indeo codec had known security vulnerabilities that could be exploited via malicious video files. As a result, modern versions of Windows often disable the codec by default or warn users when attempting to play content requiring video/x-indeo support.

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.