A protocol that specifies the format for a multipart internet message body such as a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message. A DIME message defines a container consisting of a series of message parts or chunks. The DIME protocol extends the MIME protocol. Like MIME, the message is put in a flat format to transmit over a network. After an application receives the message, it must concatenate the message into a complete entity, then recast the message into a data format the application can use. DIME supports processing messages using either MIME or a reference to a Universal Resource Identifier (URI). Using a URI, an application can load a plug‑in to function as a special handler for a media type.