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

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

video/x-ogm is a MIME type for video content packaged in the OGM container. It bundles video, audio, and sometimes subtitle streams into one file. This container typically works with codecs such as Theora for video and Vorbis for audio.
The "x-" signals experimental or non-standard status in MIME type naming.

Main Use: Delivering multimedia content in one synchronized file.
Key Fact: It allows combined streams (video, audio, subtitles) for flexible playback.
Practical Use: Supported by various media players and streaming applications on PCs.

Files using this MIME type use the file extension OGM. For more on MIME standards, visit IANA Media Types.

Associated file extensions

.ogm

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/x-ogm

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.ogm

FAQs

What is the video/x-ogm MIME type used for?

video/x-ogm is a non-standard identifier used for video files wrapped in the OGM container. It was historically used to bundle video streams (often DivX or XviD), audio (Vorbis or MP3), and subtitles into a single file before standard Ogg video specifications were finalized.

Do modern web browsers support video/x-ogm natively?

No, most modern browsers do not support video/x-ogm via the HTML5 <video> tag. To ensure video plays directly in a browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari), you should convert the file to a standard format like video/mp4 or video/webm.

How do I open a file sent as video/x-ogm?

You need a media player that supports the Ogg container and the specific video codecs inside it. VLC Media Player, MPlayer, and MPC-HC are reliable choices for opening .ogm files on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How do I configure Apache to serve .ogm files correctly?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct headers for OGM files, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType video/x-ogm .ogm. This prevents the browser from misinterpreting the file as generic text or binary data.

What does the "x-" prefix mean in video/x-ogm?

The x- prefix indicates that this is a non-standard or experimental MIME type that has not been officially registered with the IANA. While widely recognized by older software, official open-standard Ogg video files typically use video/ogg or video/theora.

What is the difference between video/x-ogm and video/ogg?

video/x-ogm refers specifically to the OGM extension, a modification of the Ogg container designed to handle video codecs and subtitles that the original Ogg format struggled with initially. In contrast, video/ogg is the standard MIME type for officially compliant Ogg video files (often using the .ogv extension).

I am getting a 'No video' error with video/x-ogm files. How do I fix it?

This error usually occurs because the player recognizes the container but lacks the specific codec (like DivX or XviD) required to decode the video stream. Installing a codec pack like K-Lite or switching to a player with built-in codecs, such as VLC, usually resolves this issue.

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.