CODEWITHSUNDEEP
http
jcm
jcm

Reputation: 5659

Are HTTP Status code descriptions used?

Is the description component of a HTTP status code used? For example, in the HTTP response '200 OK', is the OK (i.e. the description) ever used? Or is it just for humans to read?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 62

Answers (3)

Peut22
Peut22

Reputation: 304

The description is a standard message associated with the code itself to get a quick description of the code. It is used for a diagnostic, along with its full description wich can be found on the https status code list. So, it is not "used" as i think you're implying, but indeed only used for diagnostic by humans

The data sections of messages Error, Forward and redirection responses may be used to contain human-readable diagnostic information.

Upvotes: 0

Damien_The_Unbeliever
Damien_The_Unbeliever

Reputation: 239636

No, the "reason phrase" is purely there for humans to read. Nothing should be using it programmatically - especially because in HTTP/2, it's been eliminated:

HTTP/2 does not define a way to carry the version or reason phrase that is included in an HTTP/1.1 status line.

Upvotes: 2

M. Shaw
M. Shaw

Reputation: 1742

The status code is often used. For example, if you are using AJAX, you will most likely check the HTTP status code before using the data returned.

However the description is just for humans as computers recognize the status code and what it entails without the description.

Upvotes: 0

Related Questions