Information is generated, transmitted, and stored as bit sequences. That’s it.
Humans want to impart some meaning on those bits. A media type describes the way in which bits are to be interpreted.
See the complete registry of media types maintained by IANA. It’s pretty amazing.
Each is written as type/subtype; for example
text/htmltext/plainimage/pngaudio/mp4audio/mp4video/H264Here are a few of the registered ones:
| Type | Subtype |
|---|---|
| text | 1d-interleaved-parityfec cache-manifest calendar css csv csv-schema dns encaprtp enriched example fwdred grammar-ref-list html jcr-cnd markdown mizar n3 parameters parityfec plain provenance-notation prs.fallenstein.rst prs.lines.tag prs.prop.logic raptorfec RED rfc822-headers richtext rtf rtp-enc-aescm128 rtploopback rtx sgml strings t140 tab-separated-values troff turtle ulpfec uri-list vcard vnd.a vnd.abc vnd.ascii-art vnd.curl vnd.debian.copyright vnd.DMClientScript vnd.dvb.subtitle vnd.esmertec.theme-descriptor vnd.fly vnd.fmi.flexstor vnd.gml vnd.graphviz vnd.hgl vnd.in3d.3dml vnd.in3d.spot vnd.IPTC.NewsML vnd.IPTC.NITF vnd.latex-z vnd.motorola.reflex vnd.ms-mediapackage vnd.net2phone.commcenter.command vnd.radisys.msml-basic-layout vnd.senx.warpscript vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor vnd.trolltech.linguist vnd.wap.si vnd.wap.sl vnd.wap.wml vnd.wap.wmlscript xml xml-external-parsed-entity |
| message | CPIM delivery-status disposition-notification example external-body feedback-report global global-delivery-status global-disposition-notification global-headers http imdn+xml partial rfc822 s-http sip sipfrag tracking-status vnd.wfa.wsc |
| image | aces avci avcs bmp cgm dicom-rle emf example fits g3fax gif heic heic-sequence heif heif-sequence ief jls jp2 jpeg jpm jpx jxr ktx naplps png prs.btif prs.pti pwg-raster svg+xml t38 tiff tiff-fx vnd.adobe.photoshop vnd.airzip.accelerator.azv vnd.cns.inf2 vnd.dece.graphic vnd.djvu vnd.dwg vnd.dxf vnd.dvb.subtitle vnd.fastbidsheet vnd.fpx vnd.fst vnd.fujixerox.edmics-mmr vnd.fujixerox.edmics-rlc vnd.globalgraphics.pgb vnd.microsoft.icon vnd.mix vnd.ms-modi vnd.mozilla.apng vnd.net-fpx vnd.radiance vnd.sealed.png vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.gif vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.jpg vnd.svf vnd.tencent.tap vnd.valve.source.texture vnd.wap.wbmp vnd.xiff vnd.zbrush.pcx wmf |
| audio | 1d-interleaved-parityfec 32kadpcm 3gpp 3gpp2 aac ac3 AMR AMR-WB amr-wb+ aptx asc ATRAC-ADVANCED-LOSSLESS ATRAC-X ATRAC3 basic BV16 BV32 clearmode CN DAT12 dls dsr-es201108 dsr-es202050 dsr-es202211 dsr-es202212 DV DVI4 eac3 encaprtp EVRC EVRC-QCP EVRC0 EVRC1 EVRCB EVRCB0 EVRCB1 EVRCNW EVRCNW0 EVRCNW1 EVRCWB EVRCWB0 EVRCWB1 EVS example fwdred G711-0 G719 G7221 G722 G723 G726-16 G726-24 G726-32 G726-40 G728 G729 G7291 G729D G729E GSM GSM-EFR GSM-HR-08 iLBC ip-mr_v2.5 L8 L16 L20 L24 LPC MELP MELP600 MELP1200 MELP2400 mobile-xmf MPA mp4 MP4A-LATM mpa-robust mpeg mpeg4-generic ogg opus parityfec PCMA PCMA-WB PCMU PCMU-WB prs.sid QCELP raptorfec RED rtp-enc-aescm128 rtploopback rtp-midi rtx SMV SMV0 SMV-QCP sp-midi speex t140c t38 telephone-event TETRA_ACELP tone UEMCLIP ulpfec usac VDVI VMR-WB vnd.3gpp.iufp vnd.4SB vnd.audiokoz vnd.CELP vnd.cisco.nse vnd.cmles.radio-events vnd.cns.anp1 vnd.cns.inf1 vnd.dece.audio vnd.digital-winds vnd.dlna.adts vnd.dolby.heaac.1 vnd.dolby.heaac.2 vnd.dolby.mlp vnd.dolby.mps vnd.dolby.pl2 vnd.dolby.pl2x vnd.dolby.pl2z vnd.dolby.pulse.1 vnd.dra vnd.dts vnd.dts.hd vnd.dts.uhd vnd.dvb.file vnd.everad.plj vnd.hns.audio vnd.lucent.voice vnd.ms-playready.media.pya vnd.nokia.mobile-xmf vnd.nortel.vbk vnd.nuera.ecelp4800 vnd.nuera.ecelp7470 vnd.nuera.ecelp9600 vnd.octel.sbc vnd.presonus.multitrack vnd.rhetorex.32kadpcm vnd.rip vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.mpeg vnd.vmx.cvsd vorbis vorbis-config |
| video | 1d-interleaved-parityfec 3gpp 3gpp2 3gpp-tt BMPEG BT656 CelB DV encaprtp example H261 H263 H263-1998 H263-2000 H264 H264-RCDO H264-SVC H265 iso.segment JPEG jpeg2000 mj2 MP1S MP2P MP2T mp4 MP4V-ES MPV mpeg mpeg4-generic nv ogg parityfec pointer quicktime raptorfec raw rtp-enc-aescm128 rtploopback rtx smpte291 SMPTE292M ulpfec vc1 vc2 vnd.CCTV vnd.dece.hd vnd.dece.mobile vnd.dece.mp4 vnd.dece.pd vnd.dece.sd vnd.dece.video vnd.directv.mpeg vnd.directv.mpeg-tts vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts vnd.dvb.file vnd.fvt vnd.hns.video vnd.iptvforum.1dparityfec-1010 vnd.iptvforum.1dparityfec-2005 vnd.iptvforum.2dparityfec-1010 vnd.iptvforum.2dparityfec-2005 vnd.iptvforum.ttsavc vnd.iptvforum.ttsmpeg2 vnd.motorola.video vnd.motorola.videop vnd.mpegurl vnd.ms-playready.media.pyv vnd.nokia.interleaved-multimedia vnd.nokia.mp4vr vnd.nokia.videovoip vnd.objectvideo vnd.radgamettools.bink vnd.radgamettools.smacker vnd.sealed.mpeg1 vnd.sealed.mpeg4 vnd.sealed.swf vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.mov vnd.uvvu.mp4 vnd.vivo VP8 |
| model | 3mf example gltf-binary gltf+json iges mesh stl vnd.collada+xml vnd.dwf vnd.flatland.3dml vnd.gdl vnd.gs-gdl vnd.gtw vnd.moml+xml vnd.mts vnd.opengex vnd.parasolid.transmit.binary vnd.parasolid.transmit.text vnd.rosette.annotated-data-model vnd.usdz+zip vnd.valve.source.compiled-map vnd.vtu vrml x3d-vrml x3d+fastinfoset x3d+xml |
| application | 1d-interleaved-parityfec 3gpdash-qoe-report+xml 3gpp-ims+xml A2L activemessage activity+json alto-costmap+json alto-costmapfilter+json alto-directory+json alto-endpointprop+json alto-endpointpropparams+json alto-endpointcost+json alto-endpointcostparams+json alto-error+json alto-networkmapfilter+json alto-networkmap+json AML andrew-inset applefile ATF ATFX atom+xml atomcat+xml atomdeleted+xml atomicmail atomsvc+xml atsc-dwd+xml atsc-held+xml atsc-rsat+xml ATXML auth-policy+xml bacnet-xdd+zip batch-SMTP beep+xml calendar+json calendar+xml call-completion CALS-1840 cbor cccex ccmp+xml ccxml+xml CDFX+XML cdmi-capability cdmi-container cdmi-domain cdmi-object cdmi-queue cdni CEA cea-2018+xml cellml+xml cfw clue_info+xml cms cnrp+xml coap-group+json coap-payload commonground conference-info+xml cpl+xml cose cose-key cose-key-set csrattrs csta+xml CSTAdata+xml csvm+json cwt cybercash dash+xml dashdelta davmount+xml dca-rft DCD dec-dx dialog-info+xml dicom dicom+json dicom+xml DII DIT dns dns+json dns-message dskpp+xml dssc+der dssc+xml dvcs ecmascript EDI-consent EDIFACT EDI-X12 efi EmergencyCallData.Comment+xml EmergencyCallData.Control+xml EmergencyCallData.DeviceInfo+xml EmergencyCallData.eCall.MSD EmergencyCallData.ProviderInfo+xml EmergencyCallData.ServiceInfo+xml EmergencyCallData.SubscriberInfo+xml EmergencyCallData.VEDS+xml emma+xml emotionml+xml encaprtp epp+xml epub+zip eshop example exi expect-ct-report+json fastinfoset fastsoap fdt+xml fhir+json fhir+xml fits font-tdpfr framework-attributes+xml geo+json geo+json-seq geopackage+sqlite3 geoxacml+xml gltf-buffer gml+xml gzip H224 held+xml http hyperstudio ibe-key-request+xml ibe-pkg-reply+xml ibe-pp-data iges im-iscomposing+xml index index.cmd index.obj index.response index.vnd inkml+xml IOTP ipfix ipp isup its+xml javascript jf2feed+json jose jose+json jrd+json json json-patch+json json-seq jwk+json jwk-set+json jwt kpml-request+xml kpml-response+xml ld+json lgr+xml link-format load-control+xml lost+xml lostsync+xml LXF mac-binhex40 macwriteii mads+xml marc marcxml+xml mathematica mathml-content+xml mathml-presentation+xml mathml+xml mbms-associated-procedure-description+xml mbms-deregister+xml mbms-envelope+xml mbms-msk-response+xml mbms-msk+xml mbms-protection-description+xml mbms-reception-report+xml mbms-register-response+xml mbms-register+xml mbms-schedule+xml mbms-user-service-description+xml mbox media_control+xml media-policy-dataset+xml mediaservercontrol+xml merge-patch+json metalink4+xml mets+xml MF4 mikey mmt-aei+xml mmt-usd+xml mods+xml moss-keys moss-signature mosskey-data mosskey-request mp21 mp4 mpeg4-generic mpeg4-iod mpeg4-iod-xmt mrb-consumer+xml mrb-publish+xml msc-ivr+xml msc-mixer+xml msword mud+json mxf n-quads n-triples nasdata news-checkgroups news-groupinfo news-transmission nlsml+xml node nss ocsp-request ocsp-response octet-stream ODA odm+xml ODX oebps-package+xml ogg oscore oxps p2p-overlay+xml parityfec passport patch-ops-error+xml pdf PDX pem-certificate-chain pgp-encrypted pgp-keys pgp-signature pidf-diff+xml pidf+xml pkcs10 pkcs7-mime pkcs7-signature pkcs8 pkcs8-encrypted pkcs12 pkix-attr-cert pkix-cert pkix-crl pkix-pkipath pkixcmp pls+xml poc-settings+xml postscript ppsp-tracker+json problem+json problem+xml provenance+xml prs.alvestrand.titrax-sheet prs.cww prs.hpub+zip prs.nprend prs.plucker prs.rdf-xml-crypt prs.xsf+xml pskc+xml rdf+xml route-apd+xml route-s-tsid+xml route-usd+xml QSIG raptorfec rdap+json reginfo+xml relax-ng-compact-syntax remote-printing reputon+json resource-lists-diff+xml resource-lists+xml rfc+xml riscos rlmi+xml rls-services+xml rpki-ghostbusters rpki-manifest rpki-publication rpki-roa rpki-updown rtf rtploopback rtx samlassertion+xml samlmetadata+xml sbml+xml scaip+xml scim+json scvp-cv-request scvp-cv-response scvp-vp-request scvp-vp-response sdp secevent+jwt senml-exi senml+cbor senml+json senml+xml sensml-exi sensml+cbor sensml+json sensml+xml sep-exi sep+xml session-info set-payment set-payment-initiation set-registration set-registration-initiation sgml sgml-open-catalog shf+xml sieve simple-filter+xml simple-message-summary simpleSymbolContainer slate smil - OBSOLETED in favor of application/smil+xml smil+xml smpte336m soap+fastinfoset soap+xml sparql-query sparql-results+xml spirits-event+xml sql srgs srgs+xml sru+xml stix+json ssml+xml tamp-apex-update tamp-apex-update-confirm tamp-community-update tamp-community-update-confirm tamp-error tamp-sequence-adjust tamp-sequence-adjust-confirm tamp-status-query tamp-status-response tamp-update tamp-update-confirm taxii+json tei+xml TETRA_ISI thraud+xml timestamp-query timestamp-reply timestamped-data tlsrpt+gzip tlsrpt+json tnauthlist trickle-ice-sdpfrag trig ttml+xml tve-trigger tzif tzif-leap ulpfec urc-grpsheet+xml urc-ressheet+xml urc-targetdesc+xml urc-uisocketdesc+xml vcard+json vcard+xml vemmi voicexml+xml voucher-cms+json vq-rtcpxr watcherinfo+xml webpush-options+json whoispp-query whoispp-response widget wita wordperfect5.1 wsdl+xml wspolicy+xml x-www-form-urlencoded x400-bp xacml+xml xcap-att+xml xcap-caps+xml xcap-diff+xml xcap-el+xml xcap-error+xml xcap-ns+xml xcon-conference-info-diff+xml xcon-conference-info+xml xenc+xml xhtml+xml xliff+xml xml xml-dtd xml-external-parsed-entity xml-patch+xml xmpp+xml xop+xml xslt+xml xv+xml yang yang-data+json yang-data+xml yang-patch+json yang-patch+xml yin+xml zip zlib zstd |
| font | collection otf sfnt ttf woff woff2 |
| multipart | alternative appledouble byteranges digest encrypted example form-data header-set mixed multilingual parallel related report signed vnd.bint.med-plus voice-message x-mixed-replace |
There are over 900 subtypes of application beginning with vnd. None are listed here.
We’ve covered: