HTTP 204 Status Code: Understanding No Content Responses

HTTP is a client-server protocol which means that a client (mostly a web browser) initiates a request, and a server responds to it. The users access and interact with the resources using HTTP. HTTP status codes are the responses from the server to the client upon a request for a resource. If you have a website or encounter such a message while accessing one, you must understand its significance. 

HTTP 204 is a successful status response code! Let’s learn more about this response code in detail! 

What is HTTP 204 Status Code?

The HTTP 204 No Content response implies successfully completing the HTTP request. It does not return any content. Hence, it is without any message body. Developers can use this code when sending additional data in response is not required. 

If you wish to invoke the status code in a web application, here is the code snippet of JavaScript with Express framework: 

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/example', (req, res) => {
  // Perform some operations if needed
  res.status(204).end();
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server listening on port 3000');
});

Also Read: What is HTTP 201 Status Code?

Key Characteristics of Status Code 204

As you have learned above, there is no response body in this status code. It implies that the client receives no data from the server. Apart from this, here are some key characteristics of this status code:

• This status does not prompt any automatic page redirection or page refresh. 
• Entity tags or ETags are often used with the 204 status code. There is an option for the server to include the ETag header that the client can later use to check if any changes are made in the resources. 
• It is also useful for network efficiency as it saves bandwidth and discards unwanted data transfers.

Uses of the 204 Status Code

There are some common uses for this status code, as mentioned below:

• Use this response code whenever you update a resource. 
• The 204 status code is also used in the case of conditional requests. If the client requests an if-match header to check any modification in the resource, and the server checks that there is no change, it can easily raise the 204 status code to the client. 
• This status code is helpful in AJAX requests. If you use XMLHttpRequest to send data and the server successfully processes it without returning any content, use 204!
• Use this code in case of offering a response to a HEAD request. This particular request does not fetch the content but only headers. 
• If you wish to delete any resource on the server, using the 204 status code can be an excellent choice, as there is no content to return, indicating a successful deletion. 

Also Read: HTTP Status 200 Explained: Understanding the Response Code

Final Remarks

As you can see, the 204 status code is the response to the client from the server that it has successfully processed a request. Further, it is not used to indicate any errors, as with other status codes such as 404, 304, etc.

Developers know that the status code depends on a particular requirement of the app or API. It simply is a way to communicate between the server and the client. Hence, every status code adheres to a different need. 

I hope the above article is clear to you! In case of any queries, feel free to leave a comment in the section below. 

Adios!