Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

MIME type
     
         The unique identifier used
        for different file types when conveyed across a {MIME}-based
        {protocol} such as {MIME} {e-mail} or {HTTP}.
     
        Registration of MIME types is explained in {RFC 2048}.
     
        {Official MIME types
        (ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/iana/assignments/media-types/media-types)}.
     
        (1998-02-10)