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

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

video/x-quicktime is a MIME type used with Apple’s QuickTime technology. It identifies files that contain video, audio, and interactive content.
This type acts as a container that can wrap several media streams together. It is key for multimedia streaming and playback on many PC applications.
Supported file types include MOV, MP3, QIF, M4P, QT, QTI, and QTIF.

Multimedia Playback: Enables smooth video and audio streaming on various platforms.
Container Flexibility: Merges different media types into a single file.
Cross-Platform Use: Commonly supported by QuickTime Player and other media applications.
Interactive Media: Supports subtitles and timed text alongside video content.

Its structure uses codecs to compress data and improve performance. For deeper technical details, visit QuickTime on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.mov, .mp3, .qif, .m4p, .qt, .qti, .qtif

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: video/x-quicktime

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.mov, .mp3, .qif, .m4p, .qt, .qti, .qtif

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.