What is MIME type "video/x-mpeg2a"?

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

video/x-mpeg2a is a MIME type used to label files with video streams encoded by the MPEG-2 standard. It tells your system or browser that the file contains compressed video data that a media player can decode.

Files with this MIME type typically use common video extensions such as MPG and MPEG. These extensions link to resources that detail the file format further.

Main purpose: It allows computers and devices to recognize and play MPEG-2 video files. Its encoding supports efficient video compression and is well suited for playback and streaming.

Other key uses include:

Digital Broadcast: MPEG-2 is used in television and cable systems.
DVD Playback: Many DVDs employ MPEG-2 video encoding.
Streaming: Some online video services stream MPEG-2 content.
Video Editing: Software may use MPEG-2 for its balance between quality and file size.

This MIME type ensures that the right decoding process is applied, enabling smooth, high-quality video reproduction in various applications. For more details on MPEG-2 technology, visit MPEG-2 on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.mpg, .mpeg

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/x-mpeg2a

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="video/x-mpeg2a">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-mpeg2a');
      res.end('Content here');
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.mpg, .mpeg

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.