# JSON Content Type: Use application/json Correctly

> Serve JSON with the application/json MIME type per RFC 8259, and use text/html or text/javascript when JSON is embedded in HTML or JavaScript

**URL:** https://sentry.io/answers/json-content-types/

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## The Problem

I'm not sure which content type/MIME type to use when serving a JSON file from my API. There are a lot of different options:

```
application/json
application/x-javascript
text/javascript
text/x-javascript
text/x-json
```

Which of these should I use? Should I use different ones in different contexts?

## The Solution

Per the JSON specification, [RFC 8259](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8259.html), the MIME type `application/json` should be used when returning JSON content. Using a different content type may cause browsers or other clients to misinterpret or reject the data received.

If the content is HTML or JavaScript that contains JSON, then its MIME type should be `text/html` or `text/javascript` (per [RFC-9239](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9239)).

The other MIME types listed are deprecated and should not be used.

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*Source: [sentry.io/answers/json-content-types/](https://sentry.io/answers/json-content-types/)*