204 Status Code - No Content
In this section you will learn about 204 Status Code, what is it, its components and examples.

What is HTTP Status Code 204 - No Content?
The HTTP Status Code 204 is indicative of a successful request, but unlike the 200 OK
status, it signifies that there is no additional information to send back in the response body. This status code is part of the 2xx series of HTTP status codes, which confirm that a client's request was successfully received, understood, and accepted. The 204 No Content
status is typically returned when the server has successfully processed the request but there is no content to send in the response body.
Understanding 204 No Content
Successful Request: The
204 No Content
status code indicates that the server has successfully fulfilled the request and there is no additional information to send back.
No Response Body: A distinctive characteristic of the
204 No Content
status code is that the response must not include a message body, meaning it's empty.
Why 204 No Content?
The 204 No Content
status code serves as a refined success indicator when actions are processed successfully, but there is no relevant data to be returned to the client. It's a precise way to inform the client about the success of the operation, keeping the communication lightweight.
Benefits of 204 No Content
Efficient Communication: The
204 No Content
status code is a mechanism for efficient communication between client and server, especially when no additional information needs to be conveyed.Bandwidth Conservation: By not including any additional data in the response body, the
204 No Content
status code helps in conserving bandwidth, which is beneficial in network-constrained environments.
How does 204 No Content Work?
Client Sends a Request:
The client might send a request to delete a resource or to update a resource where the server does not need to send back any data.
Server Processes the Request:
The server processes the request, performing the necessary operations to fulfill the request.
Server Sends a Response:
The server sends a
204 No Content
response to the client, indicating the successful processing of the request without any additional data.
Components of 204 No Content Response
A 204 No Content
response primarily consists of:
Status Line: The first line of the response, indicating the
204 No Content
status code.
Headers: Even though there's no message body, headers can still be included in the response to provide metadata about the request.
Example of 204 No Content
Deleting a Resource:
Response:
In this example, the client sends a request to delete a user resource. The server processes the request, deletes the user, and returns a 204 No Content
status code to indicate the successful deletion of the resource.
Conclusion
The 204 No Content
status code is a meaningful part of the HTTP status code spectrum, signifying the successful processing of a request without returning any content. Understanding the 204 No Content
status code is important for developers and anyone working with APIs or web services, as it provides a nuanced way of confirming the success of an operation without the need for additional data transmission.