HFS: MIME Types: Difference between revisions

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== What is a MIME type? ==
== What is a MIME type? ==


A ''MIME type'' is an information describing the kind of document that has been retrieved from the web server. Since a web server can furnish many types of documents, the browser needs a way to know what's the document nature.
A ''MIME type'' is effectively information describing the kind of document retrieved from the web server. Since a web server can furnish many types of documents, the browser needs a way to know the specific document type in order to display it properly.


== Is not the file extension enough? ==
== Is not the file extension enough? ==


Sometimes file extension is not enough. E.g. In the web enviroment, when a PHP script generates a jpeg image, you get an URL with a ''.php'' extension, but the browser will know the content represents a jpeg image because it gets this information in the http header as a ''MIME type''.
Sometimes file extension is not enough. For example, In the web environment, when a PHP script generates a jpeg image, you get an URL with a ''.php'' extension. However, the browser knows that the content represents a jpeg image because it gets this information in the http header as a ''MIME type''.

Latest revision as of 15:08, 10 October 2006

What is a MIME type?

A MIME type is effectively information describing the kind of document retrieved from the web server. Since a web server can furnish many types of documents, the browser needs a way to know the specific document type in order to display it properly.

Is not the file extension enough?

Sometimes file extension is not enough. For example, In the web environment, when a PHP script generates a jpeg image, you get an URL with a .php extension. However, the browser knows that the content represents a jpeg image because it gets this information in the http header as a MIME type.