RFC: Standardize `application/graphql` with `.graphql` extension

Author: IvanGoncharovCreated Aug 4, 2022Updated Mar 7, 2026

Based on @leebyron suggestion in #203:

I’m happy to entertain a formal RFC to add errata to the spec to explain that .graphql is the preferred extension when saving files in the graphql language.

I propose to submit application/graphql with .graphql as an extension to the official MIME DB: https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/media-types.xhtml application/graphql already used by community see: https://grep.app/search?q=application/graphql

Note: technically, there are substantial benefits to having it as text/graphql (same as text/html). For example, OS will open files with a text editor, and browsers show content as text. But since application/graphql is already in many places standardizing on text/graphql will add a lot of confusion.

It looks like the process of submitting MIME type is pretty straightforward: https://www.iana.org/form/media-types We just need to claim it in a spec and submit the form.

I will work on spec PR in a short while, I just want to use this issue as a talking point for discussion in https://github.com/graphql/graphql-over-http repo.