XDG Desktop files are a mostly standardized way to integrate individual programs into the desktop. For example, a desktop file in /usr/share/applications or ~/.local/share/applications can add programs to the application launcher, both desktop launcher menus and separate apps like dmenu-run; or they can be used to start applications when the desktop session starts by placing them in ~/.config/autostart.
Desktop files can also set properties related to an application. In this particular case, the MimeType field tells the desktop session what MIME types should be associated with the application. For example, my desktop file for Blender associates the application/x-blender MIME type with it, which causes Blender to show up in the Open with… dialog.
The MimeType field is a semicolon-separated list. One desktop file can define multiple associated MIME types for the same application. Krita instead creates a separate file for each association.
XDG Desktop files are a mostly standardized way to integrate individual programs into the desktop. For example, a desktop file in
/usr/share/applicationsor~/.local/share/applicationscan add programs to the application launcher, both desktop launcher menus and separate apps likedmenu-run; or they can be used to start applications when the desktop session starts by placing them in~/.config/autostart.Desktop files can also set properties related to an application. In this particular case, the
MimeTypefield tells the desktop session what MIME types should be associated with the application. For example, my desktop file for Blender associates theapplication/x-blenderMIME type with it, which causes Blender to show up in the Open with… dialog.The
MimeTypefield is a semicolon-separated list. One desktop file can define multiple associated MIME types for the same application. Krita instead creates a separate file for each association.