HTTP status codes and what a program should do next

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HTTP status codes and what a program should do next

http, web-apis, software, retry-logic

HTTP status codes and what a program should do next

A quick reference for software calling web APIs: what each common status code means, and a sensible next step. Meanings follow RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics) and MDN; the retry column is general guidance, not part of the standard. Whether any retry is safe depends on the request, not just the status: repeat only idempotent requests (GET, PUT, DELETE, or a POST with an idempotency key), and check whether a timed-out write already happened before repeating it.

Status codes
CodeNameWhat it meansRetry?What to do next
200OKRequest succeededn/aUse the response body
201CreatedA new resource was madeNoSave the Location header or returned ID; repeating the request would create a duplicate
202AcceptedWork queued, not finishedn/aPoll the status URL with a delay until done
204No ContentSuccess with no bodyn/aTreat as done
301Moved PermanentlyResource has a new permanent URLn/aFollow the Location URL and update the stored URL. Older clients may rewrite POST as GET; do not forward credentials or a request body to a different origin without checking it
302FoundTemporary redirectn/aFollow for GET requests. Per the Fetch standard a POST is redirected as GET, so do not rely on the method surviving; keep the original URL as the canonical one
304Not ModifiedCached copy is still currentn/aUse the cache
307Temporary RedirectTemporary redirect; method and body are preservedn/aThe same request, body included, is resent to the Location URL. Only follow if you trust that origin with the same body and credentials
308Permanent RedirectPermanent redirect; method and body are preservedn/aAs 307, but update the stored URL. Same caution about resending bodies and credentials across origins
400Bad RequestThe request is malformedNoFix the request; repeating it unchanged will fail again
401UnauthorizedMissing, expired or invalid credentialsOnceRefresh or re-check credentials once, then stop and report
403ForbiddenServer understood the request but refuses it; re-authenticating usually makes no differenceNoStop and report. A 403 does not prove the credentials are valid; the refusal is tied to permissions or application logic
404Not FoundNothing found at this URL, or the server is concealing itNoCheck the URL for typos. Note a 404 can be sent instead of 403 to avoid revealing that a resource exists
405Method Not AllowedWrong HTTP method for this URLNoRead the Allow header and the API docs
408Request TimeoutServer closed a slow or idle connectionOnly if idempotentThe request may not have been fully received; retry a safe request on a new connection
409ConflictState changed under youAfter refetchFetch the current state, merge, then resubmit
410GoneRemoved on purpose, permanentlyNoDrop the link from your records
413Content Too LargeBody exceeds the size limitNoShrink or split the body
415Unsupported Media TypeWrong Content-TypeNoSend a supported type
422Unprocessable ContentWell-formed but rejected by validationNoRead the error detail, fix the data, resubmit
429Too Many RequestsRate limit hitLaterWait for the Retry-After time if given, then slow down
500Internal Server ErrorServer-side faultOnly if idempotentRetry a few times with backoff; a failed-looking write may still have happened, so check first
502Bad GatewayAn upstream server failedOnly if idempotentRetry with backoff; often transient
503Service UnavailableOverloaded or downOnly if idempotentHonour Retry-After if present; retry with backoff
504Gateway TimeoutUpstream was too slowOnly if idempotentCheck whether the write happened before retrying

Retry rules of thumb

Only repeat idempotent requests, or requests carrying an idempotency key. Idempotent methods are GET, HEAD, PUT and DELETE; a plain POST is not.

Back off exponentially (for example 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s) and add random jitter so many clients do not retry together.

Cap the attempts (3 to 5) and the total wait, then report the failure instead of looping.

Obey a Retry-After header over your own schedule.

Never retry 400, 403, 404 or 422 unchanged.

On redirects, do not let an Authorization header or request body leak to a different origin; many HTTP clients strip credentials on cross-origin redirects for this reason.

Sources: RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics), https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9110.html, and the MDN Web Docs HTTP status reference, https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Reference/Status

A quick reference for software calling web APIs: what each common status code means, and a sensible next step. Meanings follow RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics) and MDN; the retry column is general guidance, not part of the standard. Whether any retry is safe depends on the request, not just the status: repeat only idempotent requests (GET, PUT, DELETE, or a POST with an idempotency key), and check whether a timed-out write already happened before repeating it.

Status codes

Code	Name	What it means	Retry?	What to do next
200	OK	Request succeeded	n/a	Use the response body
201	Created	A new resource was made	No	Save the Location header or returned ID; repeating the request would create a duplicate
202	Accepted	Work queued, not finished	n/a	Poll the status URL with a delay until done
204	No Content	Success with no body	n/a	Treat as done
301	Moved Permanently	Resource has a new permanent URL	n/a	Follow the Location URL and update the stored URL. Older clients may rewrite POST as GET; do not forward credentials or a request body to a different origin without checking it
302	Found	Temporary redirect	n/a	Follow for GET requests. Per the Fetch standard a POST is redirected as GET, so do not rely on the method surviving; keep the original URL as the canonical one
304	Not Modified	Cached copy is still current	n/a	Use the cache
307	Temporary Redirect	Temporary redirect; method and body are preserved	n/a	The same request, body included, is resent to the Location URL. Only follow if you trust that origin with the same body and credentials
308	Permanent Redirect	Permanent redirect; method and body are preserved	n/a	As 307, but update the stored URL. Same caution about resending bodies and credentials across origins
400	Bad Request	The request is malformed	No	Fix the request; repeating it unchanged will fail again
401	Unauthorized	Missing, expired or invalid credentials	Once	Refresh or re-check credentials once, then stop and report
403	Forbidden	Server understood the request but refuses it; re-authenticating usually makes no difference	No	Stop and report. A 403 does not prove the credentials are valid; the refusal is tied to permissions or application logic
404	Not Found	Nothing found at this URL, or the server is concealing it	No	Check the URL for typos. Note a 404 can be sent instead of 403 to avoid revealing that a resource exists
405	Method Not Allowed	Wrong HTTP method for this URL	No	Read the Allow header and the API docs
408	Request Timeout	Server closed a slow or idle connection	Only if idempotent	The request may not have been fully received; retry a safe request on a new connection
409	Conflict	State changed under you	After refetch	Fetch the current state, merge, then resubmit
410	Gone	Removed on purpose, permanently	No	Drop the link from your records
413	Content Too Large	Body exceeds the size limit	No	Shrink or split the body
415	Unsupported Media Type	Wrong Content-Type	No	Send a supported type
422	Unprocessable Content	Well-formed but rejected by validation	No	Read the error detail, fix the data, resubmit
429	Too Many Requests	Rate limit hit	Later	Wait for the Retry-After time if given, then slow down
500	Internal Server Error	Server-side fault	Only if idempotent	Retry a few times with backoff; a failed-looking write may still have happened, so check first
502	Bad Gateway	An upstream server failed	Only if idempotent	Retry with backoff; often transient
503	Service Unavailable	Overloaded or down	Only if idempotent	Honour Retry-After if present; retry with backoff
504	Gateway Timeout	Upstream was too slow	Only if idempotent	Check whether the write happened before retrying

Retry rules of thumb

Only repeat idempotent requests, or requests carrying an idempotency key. Idempotent methods are GET, HEAD, PUT and DELETE; a plain POST is not.
Back off exponentially (for example 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s) and add random jitter so many clients do not retry together.
Cap the attempts (3 to 5) and the total wait, then report the failure instead of looping.
Obey a Retry-After header over your own schedule.
Never retry 400, 403, 404 or 422 unchanged.
On redirects, do not let an Authorization header or request body leak to a different origin; many HTTP clients strip credentials on cross-origin redirects for this reason.

Sources: RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics), https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9110.html, and the MDN Web Docs HTTP status reference, https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Reference/Status

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Status codes

Retry rules of thumb

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