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MIME Type Lookup

Look up MIME types by file extension or type

ExtensionMIME TypeDescription

What is MIME Type Lookup?

MIME Type Lookup lets you search for MIME types by file extension or description. Find the correct Content-Type header for any file format.

When to Use

  • Configuring web server MIME types for proper file delivery
  • Checking the correct Content-Type header to use in API responses
  • Debugging file download issues caused by incorrect MIME type configuration

How to Use

Enter a file extension (.pdf, .jpg, .json, etc.) or search by format name. The tool returns the standard MIME type and a brief description.

Related Tools

Also try our HTML Table Generator or JSON to YAML Converter for related functionality.

Deep Dive: How MIME Type Lookup Works

MIME Type Lookup is a developer utility that streamlines common programming tasks, reducing context-switching and eliminating the need for heavyweight IDE installations for quick operations. Modern software development involves an enormous surface area of tools, formats, and protocols—developers regularly need to format code, validate syntax, encode data, parse URLs, inspect tokens, and reference documentation, often while deep in a debugging session or rapid prototyping flow. The MIME Type Lookup provides instant, lightweight access to these capabilities directly in your browser, with zero installation, zero configuration, and zero data leaving your machine. This client-side, privacy-first architecture is particularly valuable when working with proprietary code, API keys, authentication tokens, or internal configuration that should never touch third-party servers. Developer tools like this complement full IDEs by filling the gap between 'too simple for a script' and 'too quick to launch an IDE', keeping you in flow state and reducing the friction that accumulates across hundreds of micro-tasks throughout a development day.

Pro Tips

  • Use beautifiers before minifiers—make code readable, understand it, then compress for production
  • Validate JSON and YAML before committing—syntax errors in config files cause hard-to-debug runtime failures
  • Bookmark your most-used dev tools for quick access during debugging sessions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Committing unformatted code—wastes reviewer time and creates noisy diffs
  • Minifying before debugging—always debug readable code

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the correct MIME type for a file extension?
Enter a file extension (like '.pdf' or '.json') into a MIME type lookup and it returns the corresponding MIME type—'application/pdf' or 'application/json'. You can also search by MIME type to find associated extensions. This is essential for configuring web servers, API responses, and email attachments correctly.
What is a MIME type and why does it matter for web servers?
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) types tell browsers how to handle files—whether to display an image, play audio, render a PDF, or trigger a download. The Content-Type HTTP header uses MIME types. If your server sends 'text/plain' for an HTML file, the browser shows raw code instead of rendering the page.
How do I look up MIME types for uncommon file formats?
A comprehensive MIME lookup tool includes thousands of registered types from IANA's official registry and common unregistered types. Browse by category (application, audio, image, text, video) or search directly. The tool also shows the canonical extension and recommended usage notes for each MIME type.