MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is an Internet standard for describes message content types.
MIME is a standard for describing different types of information This was originally meant to be used to specify encoding for different types of information into text. This made it possible to send them as e-mail.
The standard MIME is also used in other types of communication where there is a need for specifying which type of information is used. This could be your local operating system or a web server.
MIME defines mechanisms for sending other kinds of information in e-mail. These include text in languages other than English using character encodings other than ASCII, and 8-bit binary content such as files containing images, sounds, movies, and computer programs. MIME is also a fundamental component of communication protocols such as HTTP, which requires that data be transmitted in the context of e-mail-like messages even though the data might not (and usually doesn't) actually have anything to do with e-mail. Mapping messages into and out of MIME format is typically done automatically by an e-mail client or by mail servers when sending or receiving Internet (SMTP/MIME) e-mail.
How do I read MIME in my mail?
Mime is just a specification. Normally the information is encoded with some other standard format. When decoded it regains it original shape.
To be able to read the file you need an application that can handle the attached file. If two files, a word document and a image is sent by email they would both get encoded as mime. Upon receiving these files there need to be an application associated with each file type. Microsoft word or maybe another word processor would be associated with the word document making it possible to read the file. Photoshop or another image viewer would be associated with the image.
Normally the conversion from MIME to files is handled by the e-mail application. When the file is stored on disk it is up to the operating system to map an application to file type.
MIME messages can contain text, images, audio, video, and other application-specific data.
Official MIME info is provided by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in the following documents:
- RFC-822 Standard for ARPA Internet text messages
- RFC-2045 MIME Part 1: Format of Internet Message Bodies
- RFC-2046 MIME Part 2: Media Types
- RFC-2047 MIME Part 3: Header Extensions for Non-ASCII Text
- RFC-2048 MIME Part 4: Registration Procedures
- RFC-2049 MIME Part 5: Conformance Criteria and Examples
Different applications support different MIME types.
The reference below is a list of MIME types supported by Microsoft Internet Information Server version 5.
MIME Types
MIME Types (Application):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| application/envoy | evy |
| application/fractals | fif |
| application/futuresplash | spl |
| application/hta | hta |
| application/internet-property-stream | acx |
| application/mac-binhex40 | hqx |
| application/msword | doc |
| application/msword | dot |
| application/octet-stream | * |
| application/octet-stream | bin |
| application/octet-stream | class |
| application/octet-stream | dms |
| application/octet-stream | exe |
| application/octet-stream | lha |
| application/octet-stream | lzh |
| application/oda | oda |
| application/olescript | axs |
| application/pdf | |
| application/pics-rules | prf |
| application/pkcs10 | p10 |
| application/pkix-crl | crl |
| application/postscript | ai |
| application/postscript | eps |
| application/postscript | ps |
| application/rtf | rtf |
| application/set-payment-initiation | setpay |
| application/set-registration-initiation | setreg |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xla |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlc |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlm |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xls |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlt |
| application/vnd.ms-excel | xlw |
| application/vnd.ms-outlook | msg |
| application/vnd.ms-pkicertstore | sst |
| application/vnd.ms-pkiseccat | cat |
| application/vnd.ms-pkistl | stl |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | pot |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | pps |
| application/vnd.ms-powerpoint | ppt |
| application/vnd.ms-project | mpp |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wcm |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wdb |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wks |
| application/vnd.ms-works | wps |
| application/winhlp | hlp |
| application/x-bcpio | bcpio |
| application/x-cdf | cdf |
| application/x-compress | z |
| application/x-compressed | tgz |
| application/x-cpio | cpio |
| application/x-csh | csh |
| application/x-director | dcr |
| application/x-director | dir |
| application/x-director | dxr |
| application/x-dvi | dvi |
| application/x-gtar | gtar |
| application/x-gzip | gz |
| application/x-hdf | hdf |
| application/x-internet-signup | ins |
| application/x-internet-signup | isp |
| application/x-iphone | iii |
| application/x-javascript | js |
| application/x-latex | latex |
| application/x-msaccess | mdb |
| application/x-mscardfile | crd |
| application/x-msclip | clp |
| application/x-msdownload | dll |
| application/x-msmediaview | m13 |
| application/x-msmediaview | m14 |
| application/x-msmediaview | mvb |
| application/x-msmetafile | wmf |
| application/x-msmoney | mny |
| application/x-mspublisher | pub |
| application/x-msschedule | scd |
| application/x-msterminal | trm |
| application/x-mswrite | wri |
| application/x-netcdf | cdf |
| application/x-netcdf | nc |
| application/x-perfmon | pma |
| application/x-perfmon | pmc |
| application/x-perfmon | pml |
| application/x-perfmon | pmr |
| application/x-perfmon | pmw |
| application/x-pkcs12 | p12 |
| application/x-pkcs12 | pfx |
| application/x-pkcs7-certificates | p7b |
| application/x-pkcs7-certificates | spc |
| application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp | p7r |
| application/x-pkcs7-mime | p7c |
| application/x-pkcs7-mime | p7m |
| application/x-pkcs7-signature | p7s |
| application/x-sh | sh |
| application/x-shar | shar |
| application/x-shockwave-flash | swf |
| application/x-stuffit | sit |
| application/x-sv4cpio | sv4cpio |
| application/x-sv4crc | sv4crc |
| application/x-tar | tar |
| application/x-tcl | tcl |
| application/x-tex | tex |
| application/x-texinfo | texi |
| application/x-texinfo | texinfo |
| application/x-troff | roff |
| application/x-troff | t |
| application/x-troff | tr |
| application/x-troff-man | man |
| application/x-troff-me | me |
| application/x-troff-ms | ms |
| application/x-ustar | ustar |
| application/x-wais-source | src |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | cer |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | crt |
| application/x-x509-ca-cert | der |
| application/ynd.ms-pkipko | pko |
| application/zip | zip |
MIME Types (Audio):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| audio/basic | au |
| audio/basic | snd |
| audio/mid | mid |
| audio/mid | rmi |
| audio/mpeg | mp3 |
| audio/x-aiff | aif |
| audio/x-aiff | aifc |
| audio/x-aiff | aiff |
| audio/x-mpegurl | m3u |
| audio/x-pn-realaudio | ra |
| audio/x-pn-realaudio | ram |
| audio/x-wav | wav |
MIME Types (Image):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| image/bmp | bmp |
| image/cis-cod | cod |
| image/gif | gif |
| image/ief | ief |
| image/jpeg | jpe |
| image/jpeg | jpeg |
| image/jpeg | jpg |
| image/pipeg | jfif |
| image/svg+xml | svg |
| image/tiff | tif |
| image/tiff | tiff |
| image/x-cmu-raster | ras |
| image/x-cmx | cmx |
| image/x-icon | ico |
| image/x-portable-anymap | pnm |
| image/x-portable-bitmap | pbm |
| image/x-portable-graymap | pgm |
| image/x-portable-pixmap | ppm |
| image/x-rgb | rgb |
| image/x-xbitmap | xbm |
| image/x-xpixmap | xpm |
| image/x-xwindowdump | xwd |
MIME Types (Message):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| message/rfc822 | mht |
| message/rfc822 | mhtml |
| message/rfc822 | nws |
MIME Types (Text):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| text/css | css |
| text/h323 | 323 |
| text/html | htm |
| text/html | html |
| text/html | stm |
| text/iuls | uls |
| text/plain | bas |
| text/plain | c |
| text/plain | h |
| text/plain | txt |
| text/richtext | rtx |
| text/scriptlet | sct |
| text/tab-separated-values | tsv |
| text/webviewhtml | htt |
| text/x-component | htc |
| text/x-setext | etx |
| text/x-vcard | vcf |
MIME Types (Video):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| video/mpeg | mp2 |
| video/mpeg | mpa |
| video/mpeg | mpe |
| video/mpeg | mpeg |
| video/mpeg | mpg |
| video/mpeg | mpv2 |
| video/quicktime | mov |
| video/quicktime | qt |
| video/x-la-asf | lsf |
| video/x-la-asf | lsx |
| video/x-ms-asf | asf |
| video/x-ms-asf | asr |
| video/x-ms-asf | asx |
| video/x-msvideo | avi |
| video/x-sgi-movie | movie |
MIME Types (Video):
| Type/sub-type | Extension |
| x-world/x-vrml | flr |
| x-world/x-vrml | vrml |
| x-world/x-vrml | wrl |
| x-world/x-vrml | wrz |
| x-world/x-vrml | xaf |
| x-world/x-vrml | xof |
Mime Types By File Extension
| Extension | Type/sub-type |
| application/octet-stream | |
| 323 | text/h323 |
| acx | application/internet-property-stream |
| ai | application/postscript |
| aif | audio/x-aiff |
| aifc | audio/x-aiff |
| aiff | audio/x-aiff |
| asf | video/x-ms-asf |
| asr | video/x-ms-asf |
| asx | video/x-ms-asf |
| au | audio/basic |
| avi | video/x-msvideo |
| axs | application/olescript |
| bas | text/plain |
| bcpio | application/x-bcpio |
| bin | application/octet-stream |
| bmp | image/bmp |
| c | text/plain |
| cat | application/vnd.ms-pkiseccat |
| cdf | application/x-cdf |
| cer | application/x-x509-ca-cert |
| class | application/octet-stream |
| clp | application/x-msclip |
| cmx | image/x-cmx |
| cod | image/cis-cod |
| cpio | application/x-cpio |
| crd | application/x-mscardfile |
| crl | application/pkix-crl |
| crt | application/x-x509-ca-cert |
| csh | application/x-csh |
| css | text/css |
| dcr | application/x-director |
| der | application/x-x509-ca-cert |
| dir | application/x-director |
| dll | application/x-msdownload |
| dms | application/octet-stream |
| doc | application/msword |
| dot | application/msword |
| dvi | application/x-dvi |
| dxr | application/x-director |
| eps | application/postscript |
| etx | text/x-setext |
| evy | application/envoy |
| exe | application/octet-stream |
| fif | application/fractals |
| flr | x-world/x-vrml |
| gif | image/gif |
| gtar | application/x-gtar |
| gz | application/x-gzip |
| h | text/plain |
| hdf | application/x-hdf |
| hlp | application/winhlp |
| hqx | application/mac-binhex40 |
| hta | application/hta |
| htc | text/x-component |
| htm | text/html |
| html | text/html |
| htt | text/webviewhtml |
| ico | image/x-icon |
| ief | image/ief |
| iii | application/x-iphone |
| ins | application/x-internet-signup |
| isp | application/x-internet-signup |
| jfif | image/pipeg |
| jpe | image/jpeg |
| jpeg | image/jpeg |
| jpg | image/jpeg |
| js | application/x-javascript |
| latex | application/x-latex |
| lha | application/octet-stream |
| lsf | video/x-la-asf |
| lsx | video/x-la-asf |
| lzh | application/octet-stream |
| m13 | application/x-msmediaview |
| m14 | application/x-msmediaview |
| m3u | audio/x-mpegurl |
| man | application/x-troff-man |
| mdb | application/x-msaccess |
| me | application/x-troff-me |
| mht | message/rfc822 |
| mhtml | message/rfc822 |
| mid | audio/mid |
| mny | application/x-msmoney |
| mov | video/quicktime |
| movie | video/x-sgi-movie |
| mp2 | video/mpeg |
| mp3 | audio/mpeg |
| mpa | video/mpeg |
| mpe | video/mpeg |
| mpeg | video/mpeg |
| mpg | video/mpeg |
| mpp | application/vnd.ms-project |
| mpv2 | video/mpeg |
| ms | application/x-troff-ms |
| mvb | application/x-msmediaview |
| nws | message/rfc822 |
| oda | application/oda |
| p10 | application/pkcs10 |
| p12 | application/x-pkcs12 |
| p7b | application/x-pkcs7-certificates |
| p7c | application/x-pkcs7-mime |
| p7m | application/x-pkcs7-mime |
| p7r | application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp |
| p7s | application/x-pkcs7-signature |
| pbm | image/x-portable-bitmap |
| | application/pdf |
| pfx | application/x-pkcs12 |
| pgm | image/x-portable-graymap |
| pko | application/ynd.ms-pkipko |
| pma | application/x-perfmon |
| pmc | application/x-perfmon |
| pml | application/x-perfmon |
| pmr | application/x-perfmon |
| pmw | application/x-perfmon |
| pnm | image/x-portable-anymap |
| pot, | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint |
| ppm | image/x-portable-pixmap |
| pps | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint |
| ppt | application/vnd.ms-powerpoint |
| prf | application/pics-rules |
| ps | application/postscript |
| pub | application/x-mspublisher |
| qt | video/quicktime |
| ra | audio/x-pn-realaudio |
| ram | audio/x-pn-realaudio |
| ras | image/x-cmu-raster |
| rgb | image/x-rgb |
| rmi | audio/mid |
| roff | application/x-troff |
| rtf | application/rtf |
| rtx | text/richtext |
| scd | application/x-msschedule |
| sct | text/scriptlet |
| setpay | application/set-payment-initiation |
| setreg | application/set-registration-initiation |
| sh | application/x-sh |
| shar | application/x-shar |
| sit | application/x-stuffit |
| snd | audio/basic |
| spc | application/x-pkcs7-certificates |
| spl | application/futuresplash |
| src | application/x-wais-source |
| sst | application/vnd.ms-pkicertstore |
| stl | application/vnd.ms-pkistl |
| stm | text/html |
| svg | image/svg+xml |
| sv4cpio | application/x-sv4cpio |
| sv4crc | application/x-sv4crc |
| swf | application/x-shockwave-flash |
| t | application/x-troff |
| tar | application/x-tar |
| tcl | application/x-tcl |
| tex | application/x-tex |
| texi | application/x-texinfo |
| texinfo | application/x-texinfo |
| tgz | application/x-compressed |
| tif | image/tiff |
| tiff | image/tiff |
| tr | application/x-troff |
| trm | application/x-msterminal |
| tsv | text/tab-separated-values |
| txt | text/plain |
| uls | text/iuls |
| ustar | application/x-ustar |
| vcf | text/x-vcard |
| vrml | x-world/x-vrml |
| wav | audio/x-wav |
| wcm | application/vnd.ms-works |
| wdb | application/vnd.ms-works |
| wks | application/vnd.ms-works |
| wmf | application/x-msmetafile |
| wps | application/vnd.ms-works |
| wri | application/x-mswrite |
| wrl | x-world/x-vrml |
| wrz | x-world/x-vrml |
| xaf | x-world/x-vrml |
| xbm | image/x-xbitmap |
| xla | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xlc | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xlm | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xls | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xlt | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xlw | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| xof | x-world/x-vrml |
| xpm | image/x-xpixmap |
| xwd | image/x-xwindowdump |
| z | application/x-compress |
| zip | application/zip |
MIME Technical Summary
MIME is defined by an Internet standard document called RFC1521. This document summarizes the contents of RFC1521. Sufficient detail is presented here to understand the capabilities of MIME. For sufficient detail to implement MIME please read RFC1521.
MIME allows messages to contain multiple objects. When multiple objects are in a MIME message, they are represented in a form called a body part. A body part has a header and a body, so it makes sense to speak about the body of a body part. Also, body parts can be nested in bodies that contain one or multiple body parts.
The Content-Type values, subtypes, and parameter names defined in the MIME standard are case-insensitive. However, many parameter values are case sensitive
The MIME standard is written to allow MIME to be extended in certain ways, without having to revise the standard. MIME specifies sets of values that are allowed for various fields and parameters. The provides a procedure for extending these sets of values by registering them with an entity called the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
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