MIME Registry

File Types - functions for getting information about files based on their MIME type
MIME Database Monitor - monitor the MIME database for changes (primarily for file browsers)
gnome-vfs-mime-database-deprecated -
Deprecated Application Registry API - do not use in new code

MIME types provide a standardized for denoting the content of files or file streams. GnomeVFS exposes simple methods for both identifying the MIME type of a particular file, and deciding how to act on it. The MIME and application registries provide a mapping between files of a particular mime type and applications / bonobo components which can view or edit those files. Applications such as Nautilus use this database to generate appropriate actions when files are activated.