ApplicationBinary

`application/pkcs8`

PKCS#8 Private Key

Reference for application/pkcs8, the MIME type for PKCS#8 private key files used in cryptographic operations.

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Expected extensions: .p8, .key

HTTP Content-Type Header

HTTP Header

Content-Type: application/pkcs8

Associated File Extensions

.p8.key

Quick Facts

MIME Type	application/pkcs8
Category	Application
Type	Binary
Extensions	.p8, .key

Common Usage

PKCS#8 is a standard syntax for storing private key information. It can hold RSA, DSA, and EC private keys in either encrypted or unencrypted form.

Used in TLS server configuration, code signing, API authentication (Apple Push Notifications), and certificate management.

Code Examples

HTML

<!-- Link or embed with explicit type -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="file.p8" type="application/pkcs8">

<!-- Or for script/media elements -->
<script type="application/pkcs8" src="file.p8"></script>

Node.js

// Express.js
app.get('/file', (req, res) => {
  res.type('application/pkcs8');
  res.send(data);
});

// Node.js http
res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'application/pkcs8' });

nginx

# nginx.conf — add to types block or use default
types {
    application/pkcs8  p8 key;
}

# Or set for a specific location
location /api/ {
    default_type application/pkcs8;
}