.svg
Images · image/svg+xml
Opens with
Formats that hold photos and drawings. The same picture can differ hugely in size and quality depending on the format.
| MIME type | image/svg+xml |
|---|---|
| Category | Images |
| Opens in a browser | Yes |
| Plain text | Yes |
| Registered type | Yes |
How to read this
- An extension is a label, not the contents. Rename a file to .png and if the bytes inside are JPEG, it is still a JPEG.
- A MIME type is how the internet names a file kind. Browsers look at that value, not the extension, to decide whether to display or download.
- A MIME type starting with x- was never registered as a standard. Plenty are in wide use, but they are not official names.
- Video extensions name a container. The same .mp4 may play on one device and not another, depending on the codec inside.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is a .svg file?
It belongs to the images category and its MIME type is image/svg+xml. The contents are plain text, so you can even open it in Notepad and read it.
Q. What opens a .svg file?
Chrome, Illustrator, Inkscape, Figma all handle it. In a browser it opens directly, with no extra software.
Q. What is the MIME type of .svg?
image/svg+xml. The first half, image, names the broad kind; the second half, svg+xml, names the exact format. It is a registered standard name.
Q. Can I convert a .svg file to another format?
Yes — open it and re-save through a converter. Renaming alone changes only the label; the bytes stay put, and programs that check the real format may refuse to open it.
Q. My .svg file will not open.
First check that Chrome is installed. If it still fails, the download may have been cut short, or the file may only be named .svg while holding a different format inside.