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.PRE·File Extension

PRE Data & Text — A .pre file is a PRE Data & Text. It is a text-based data format widely used for configuration files, data interchange and API payloads.

Data & Textapplication/vnd.lotus-freelance

Quick facts

Extension.pre

File typePRE Data & Text

MIME typeapplication/vnd.lotus-freelance

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

Compressible—

What is .pre

What is a .pre file?

A .pre file is a PRE Data & Text. It is a text-based data format widely used for configuration files, data interchange and API payloads.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/vnd.lotus-freelance. When serving .pre over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/vnd.lotus-freelance — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .pre files

Use VS Code or Notepad++ to open and edit .pre files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/vnd.lotus-freelance

Common software that reads/writes .pre:

VS CodeNotepad++Sublime Textjq

Relation chain

.preextension of

format

PRE Data & Textserved as

mime type

application/vnd.lotus-freelancesent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

application/vnd.lotus-freelance

.pre

Common uses

Configuration files
Data interchange between systems
API request and response payloads
Logs and data exports

How to edit .pre files

Open the file with VS Code, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .pre files

Create a new file and save it with the .pre extension, or export this format from VS Code.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .pre files?

Common options include VS Code, Notepad++, Sublime Text. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .pre file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .pre extension.

What is the relationship between .pre and the application/vnd.lotus-freelance MIME type?

application/vnd.lotus-freelance is the media type identifier used for .pre files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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