The HTTP “Content-Type” Header is the identifier used to make the HTTP client and server understand the content or media type of the resource added in the document. It instructs the server on which media type the browser is looking for. The HTTP Content-Type header is supported by many browsers including “Google Chrome”, “Mozilla Firefox”, “Internet Explorer”, “Safari”, “Samsung browser” and “Opera”.
This blog will discuss about different values of the HTTP “Content-Type” Header.
How to Use the HTTP “Content-Type” Header?
The syntax to use the HTTP “Content-Type” Header is as follows:
Types of the Values in HTTP “Content-Type” Header
The types of the content type values used in the HTTP “Content-Type” Header are as follows:
All Values in HTTP “Content-Type” Header
There are multiple values for each content type used in the HTTP “Content-Type” Header. Let’s enlist all the possible values of each content type of the HTTP “Content-Type” Header.
Application
When an application is supposed to be added to the document, the “application” content type is used in the header. There are different types of application file formats that the HTTP supports:
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- application/java-archive
- application/EDI-X12
- application/javascript
- application/xml
- application/pdf
- application/octet-stream
- application/ogg
- application/zip
- application/xhtml+xml
- application/x-shockwave-flash
- application/json
- application/x-www-form-urlencoded
- application/ld+json
- application/EDIFACT
Audio
When there is a need to add the audio files to the document, the “audio” content type is used in the header. Audio can be added in different formats as follows:
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- audio/mpeg
- audio/vnd.rn-realaudio
- audio/x-wav
- audio/x-ms-wma
Image
To add images in the document of different formats, there is the “image” content type and the following are the possible values for the Image content type:
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- image/gif
- image/tiff
- image/vnd.djvu
- image/jpeg
- image/svg+xml
- image/png
- image/x-icon
- image/vnd.microsoft.icon
Multipart
The “multipart” content type is added to upload files or content of different types in a single document. The following four values for the “multipart” content-type are valid in HTTP:
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- multipart/mixed
- multipart/related
- multipart/form-data
- multipart/alternative
Text
When there is a text file supposed to be added to the document, the “text” content type is used with any of the following six text format values:
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- text/css
- text/javascript (obsolete)
- text/plain
- text/html
- text/xml
- text/csv
Video
To efficiently display the videos, the “video” content type is used with the following content type values:
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- video/mpeg
- video/x-ms-wmv
- video/x-msvideo
- video/webm
- video/mp4
- video/x-flv
- video/quicktime
VND (Vendor-specific)
Following are the values for the VND (Vendor-specific) content type for HTTP:
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- application/vnd.android.package-archive
- application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation
- application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml
- application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text
- application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation
- application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet
- application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
- application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics
- application/vnd.ms-excel
- application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
- application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
- application/msword
These are all the possible values for the HTTP “Content-Type” Header.
Conclusion
The HTTP “Content-Type” Header instructs the HTTP clients and server which type of file they must execute. There are multiple types of the HTTP “Content-Type” Header that includes application, audio, image, multipart, text, and video. Moreover, it comprises multiple values for these content or media types, for instance, text/html, application/pdf, audio/mpeg, etc. This blog is a good guide about different values used in the HTTP “Content-Type” header.
