204 No Content in Rest API - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the HTTP status code 204 No Content mean?

It means the server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content in the response body.

beginner

When should a server respond with 204 No Content?

When the request is successful but there is no need to send any data back, such as after a successful DELETE or PUT request.

beginner

Does a 204 No Content response include a message body?

No, a 204 response must not include a message body. The client should not expect any content.

intermediate

How does a 204 No Content response affect client behavior?

Clients understand that the request was successful but no new data is returned, so they usually do not update the UI with new content.

intermediate

Can a 204 No Content response include headers?

Yes, headers like Location or custom headers can be included, but the body must be empty.

What does HTTP status code 204 indicate?

A Request redirected to another URL

B Request succeeded with no content returned

C Server error occurred

D Resource not found

204 means the server processed the request successfully but sends no content back.

Which HTTP method often results in a 204 No Content response?

A DELETE

B POST

C GET

D OPTIONS

DELETE requests often return 204 to indicate successful deletion without returning content.

Can a 204 No Content response include a response body?

A No, never

B Yes, always

C Only if the client requests it

D Only for POST requests

204 responses must not include a message body.

What should a client do when it receives a 204 No Content response?

A Display the returned content

B Ignore the response

C Understand the request succeeded but no content is returned

D Retry the request

The client knows the request succeeded but no content is sent back.

Is it valid to include headers in a 204 No Content response?

A No headers allowed

B Only caching headers allowed

C Only Content-Type header allowed

D Headers are allowed but no body

Headers can be included in 204 responses, but the body must be empty.

Explain the purpose and typical use cases of the 204 No Content HTTP status code.

Think about requests that succeed but don't need to send data back.

Describe how a client should handle a 204 No Content response.

Consider what the client expects to receive and what it should do.