MIME
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is an extension of Internet e-mail message format. Among other things, it defines a standard way to attach files to an email message.
The file type identification system used by MIME, MIME types, is also used by a number of other formats and protocols, such as HTTP.
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Format
A MIME-compliant message is identified by the presence of a "MIME-Version" message header. The other headers used by MIME begin with "Content-". (This applies to the top level of an e-mail message. If MIME content is embedded in another format such as S/MIME, it may not require a MIME-Version header.)
Since MIME data is usually found as part of a message (as stored or transmitted by various means) rather than as a standalone file, it usually doesn't have a file extension. MIME headers or MIME-encoded messages saved for archiving or as example files might sometimes have a .mime extension.
See also
Specifications
- RFC 2045: MIME Part One: Format of Internet Message Bodies
- RFC 2046: MIME Part Two: Media types
- RFC 2047: MIME Part Three: Message Header Extensions for Non-ASCII Text
- RFC 2049: MIME Part Five: Conformance Criteria and Examples
- RFC 2183: The Content-Disposition Header Field
- RFC 2231: MIME Parameter Value and Encoded Word Extensions: Character Sets, Languages, and Continuations
- RFC 2387: The MIME Multipart/Related Content-type
- RFC 3676: The Text/Plain Format and DelSp Parameters
- RFC 3798: Message Disposition Notification
- RFC 4289: MIME Part Four: Registration Procedures
- RFC 5147: URI Fragment Identifiers for the text/plain Media Type
- RFC 6532: Internationalized Email Headers
- RFC 6533: Internationalized Delivery Status and Disposition Notifications
- RFC 6838: Media Type Specifications and Registration Procedures
