MIME Type Lookup

Overview

A MIME type and file extension lookup API, for example the MIME type for JSON or the extensions behind image/png. MIME Type Lookup works by searching the mime-db database, which merges the IANA, Apache and nginx type lists. Returns category and default charset for an extension or MIME type, with the defining source and all associated extensions on paid plans, and accepts a full Content-Type header value such as text/html; charset=utf-8.

Live Test MIME Type Lookup API →

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

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curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/mimetypelookup?extension=pdf" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

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const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/mimetypelookup?extension=pdf', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

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import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/mimetypelookup?extension=pdf",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

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package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/mimetypelookup?extension=pdf", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

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{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "count": 1,
    "results": [
      {
        "extension": "jpg",
        "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
        "category": "image",
        "charset": null,
        "compressible": false,
        "source": "iana",
        "extensions": [
          "jpg",
          "jpeg",
          "jpe"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Use cases

File Upload Handling

Validate and identify file types during file upload processing in web applications

Content-Type Headers

Set correct Content-Type headers for HTTP responses based on file extensions

File Processing

Determine how to process files based on their MIME type in data pipelines

API Development

Configure proper content type handling in REST APIs and file serving endpoints

Other ways to use MIME Type Lookup

Set up MIME Type Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Related

More in Reference Data: