application/zip
The MIME type for ZIP archives — the OS-agnostic default for compressed bundles of files.
Typical extensions
Primary uses
- Shipping multiple files as a single download
- Serves as the inner container for Office files (docx/xlsx/pptx) — they have their own MIME but are ZIP under the hood
- Android APKs and Java JARs
In a browser
Typically downloaded, not opened inline. Some browser extensions and cloud storage UIs offer preview of archive contents.
On a server
When serving large archives, set `Content-Length` correctly and enable `Accept-Ranges: bytes` so clients can resume interrupted downloads.
In email
Corporate mail gateways aggressively scan ZIPs; password-protected archives are commonly quarantined because they cannot be inspected.