What Is a .xhtml File? .xhtml Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.xhtml

File typeXHTML Document

MIME typeapplication/xhtml+xml

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

CompressibleYes

Format familyhtml

What is .xhtml

What is a .xhtml file?

A .xhtml file is a XHTML Document — HTML reformulated as a strict XML application.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/xhtml+xml, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .xhtml over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/xhtml+xml and is used by HTML among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .xhtml files

Use Chrome or VS Code to open and edit .xhtml 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/xhtml+xml

Common software that reads/writes .xhtml:

ChromeVS Code

Relation chain

.xhtmlextension of

format

htmlserved as

mime type

application/xhtml+xmlsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

application/xhtml+xml

.xhtml .xht

Related programming languages

HTML

.html .hta .htm

Common uses

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

How to edit .xhtml files

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

How to create .xhtml files

Create a new file and save it with the .xhtml extension, or export this format from Chrome.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .xhtml files?

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

How do I create a .xhtml file?

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

What is the relationship between .xhtml and the application/xhtml+xml MIME type?

application/xhtml+xml is the media type identifier used for .xhtml files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-08-18

Explore this reference