HTTP Status 204 - No Content: Explanation & Best Practices

Most folks in the digital space recognize familiar HTTP status codes like 200 OK or 404 Not Found, but some useful ones don't get as much spotlight.

One of these is 204 No Content. Let's take a closer look at what this status means, how it works, and when it's appropriate to use.

What Does HTTP 204 Mean?

HTTP status codes help servers and browsers stay on the same page by showing what happened with a request. The 2xx category of codes are usually the ones we appreciate most since they show the request was successful.

Among these, 204 No Content holds a unique place. It confirms the server has successfully handled the client's request but has no content to send back. In other words the server is telling the client "Everything went well, but there's nothing new for you to see."

Further Understanding the Response

A 204 status differs from other successful responses in that it includes no content beyond the HTTP headers. While a 200 OK might return HTML, JSON, or other types of media, a 204 returns only metadata in the header section and leaves the response body empty.

Here's an example of what a 204 response looks like at the protocol level:

HTTP/1.1 204 No Content
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:22:30 GMT

There's no body after the header—no markup, no JSON, no message. The client can safely assume the action completed as expected, but it doesn't need to update the user interface or reload any content.

This is a particularly useful application in situations where the client has already rendered everything it needs and just wants confirmation that a background operation (like a form save or API call) succeeded.

How HTTP 204 Works

When a client—like a browser, mobile app, or script—sends a request, it's asking the server to perform an action. This could be anything from updating user settings, deleting a resource, or checking for new information.

Here's what typically happens when a 204 response is used:

1. Client Sends Request: The client initiates a request to the server. This might be a POST to save data, a DELETE to remove a resource, or a GET to check for updates.
   
   
2. Server Processes the Request: The server carries out the requested action. It might save new information, delete an item, or verify that no changes have occurred.
   
   
3. No Content to Return: If there's no need to send a message body back—no new page, no updated data—the server responds with a 204 status.
   
   
4. Client Receives Confirmation: The client sees the 204 response and understands that the request succeeded, but there's nothing new to display or refresh.
   
   
5. No Page Reload or UI Change: Because the response contains no content, the client keeps the current screen or interface unchanged, preserving a seamless user experience.

Why You Might Want Use 204 Status

While 204 might look minimal, it serves a specific purpose in stateless communication, particularly in RESTful APIs. It's ideal for lightweight interactions where the server has nothing new to return but the client still needs a definitive acknowledgment.

When to Use Status Code 204

Knowing the right time to send a 204 No Content response will help site and app interactions run smoothly, avoid unnecessary page reloads, and improve overall user experience.

Background Saves in Web Applications

Many web apps save user input automatically, like when a user changes settings or preferences. Instead of reloading the page or showing a confirmation message each time, the app sends the update quietly in the background. A 204 response confirms the change worked without interrupting the user's flow.

Example: A settings page saves changes as soon as a user toggles a switch:

fetch('/api/save-setting', {
  method: 'POST',
  body: JSON.stringify({ darkMode: true })
});

The server responds with:

HTTP/1.1 204 No Content

The page doesn't refresh or display a message, but the preference is saved behind the scenes.

Polling or Checking for Updates

Some apps periodically check the server for new information using background requests. When there's no new data, a 204 response tells the client everything is current, preventing unnecessary content from being sent.

Example:

GET /api/notifications
→ 204 No Content

DELETE Requests in APIs

When an API deletes a resource, it often doesn't need to return any content. A 204 status code signals the deletion worked, keeping the response lightweight.

Example:

DELETE /api/posts/123
→ 204 No Content

The client knows the post was removed without receiving extra data.

PUT or PATCH Requests with No Return Data

For updating resources where the client doesn't need any new data or confirmation beyond success, 204 cleanly closes the interaction.

Example:

PATCH /api/user/profile
→ 204 No Content

The client assumes the update was successful and doesn't reload or change the current view.

When Not to Use 204 No Content

While 204 has its place, there are situations where using it can cause confusion or break expected functionality:

When the client expects content

If the client is designed to process or display data in the response—like HTML, JSON, or even a simple success message—a 204 will cause issues because it delivers nothing beyond headers. In these cases, a 200 OK with a response body is usually a better choice.

For redirecting or updating the UI

If your app needs to update the interface, show feedback to the user, or redirect after a request, 204 won't help. Other status codes like 200, 201, or even a 307 redirect may be more appropriate.

When used with certain request types

Some client libraries and browsers can behave unpredictably if they receive a 204 after a POST or other state-changing request. If the operation triggers client-side logic based on response content, skipping the body might cause bugs or make debugging harder.

For error handling

A 204 means everything went fine. If something went wrong—like a failed validation, missing input, or server issue—204 shouldn't be used. A status from the 4xx or 5xx range would be more appropriate in those cases.

Learn More: Check the HTTP Error Codes overview or dive deeper with our 403 Forbidden guide for a better understanding and troubleshooting tips.

In short, 204 works best when the client doesn't need anything new in return—and both sides are clear on that. If there's any chance the client expects a payload, using a response with actual content avoids ambiguity.

Comparing 204 to Other 2xx Status Codes

HTTP status codes in the 2xx range all indicate successful requests, but each serves a different purpose depending on what the client needs to know or do next. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right code for your server responses and keeps communication between the client and server clear and efficient.

The 204 No Content status stands out because it signals success without returning any content or prompting changes on the client side.

How 204 Differs from Other 2xx Status Codes

• 200 OK: Most common success response, usually includes content the client should display or use. For example, loading a webpage or receiving data from an API.
  
• 201 Created: Used when a new resource is created, such as after a signup or record creation. It often includes details about the resource, but the response body is optional.
  
• 202 Accepted: Means the request was received and understood, but processing will happen later. No immediate response content, common in asynchronous actions.
  
• 204 No Content: Confirms success with no content to return. Tells the client no need to update the display or reload the page—ideal for silent background operations like saves or deletes.
  
• 205 Reset Content: Sends no content but instructs the client to reset or clear the UI, like clearing input fields after submitting a form.

SEO Considerations

When it comes to search engines, how your server responds can affect whether your pages appear in search results. While the 204 No Content status code is mostly used for behind-the-scenes interactions, it's important to understand its effects on indexing and visibility. Using it in the wrong context can unintentionally prevent your pages from being recognized by search engines or confuse crawling bots.

204 Responses Are Not Indexed

Since a 204 status indicates the server successfully processed the request but has no content to show, search engines treat these responses as empty. Pages returning a 204 will not be added to search engine indexes, meaning they won't appear in search results.

Avoid 204 for Public Web Pages

If a page meant for users to view — like a product page, blog post, or homepage — responds with 204, search engines will consider it blank. This can lead to the page being dropped from search results entirely, limiting your site's visibility and potential traffic.

Use 204 Only for API or Background Requests

The 204 status is best reserved for API calls, background saves, or other operations that don't deliver visible content. For pages and resources that need to be indexed and displayed, use standard success codes like 200 with the full content included.

Watch for Accidental 204 Responses

Sometimes configuration errors or bugs cause pages to return 204 by mistake. Regularly check your site for unexpected 204 responses on important URLs to prevent loss of search engine traffic.

Example: If your /about page returns 204 instead of 200 with content, Google will skip indexing it.

Performance Benefits

While the 204 No Content status code itself doesn't speed up your site by magic, using it thoughtfully can reduce unnecessary data transfers and processing. This leads to a leaner experience for users, especially on devices with slower connections or limited resources.

Smaller Response Sizes

Since a 204 response contains no body, it sends only the headers back to the client. This means less data travels over the network compared to a full HTML page or JSON response. Smaller responses save bandwidth and can reduce loading times, which matters most for users on mobile networks or slower internet speeds.

Faster Interactions

By confirming success without sending extra content, 204 responses let apps handle background operations silently and quickly. For example, auto-saving settings or confirming deletes won't interrupt the user interface, allowing the app to feel more responsive and smooth.

Reduced Client-Side Processing

When the browser or app receives a 204, it doesn't need to parse or render any content, which lowers the workload on the client. This frees up resources for other tasks, improving overall performance and user experience, especially on lower-powered devices.

Better Resource Management

Using 204 strategically helps servers and networks avoid sending unnecessary data. This can lower server load and reduce traffic, making it easier to scale your application when handling many users or frequent background requests.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The 204 No Content code has specific rules and behaviors that must be followed to avoid unexpected problems for users or break site/app functionality. Knowing these common pitfalls helps make sure implementation stays smooth and predictable, both for users and supporting systems.

Returning a Response Body with 204

The HTTP specification clearly states a 204 response must not include a response body. This means no HTML, JSON, or any other content should accompany this status code. Including a body can confuse browsers and clients, which expect no content. Some clients might ignore the body, while others could behave unpredictably.

Example Mistake:
A server responds to a background request with 204 status but accidentally includes a small JSON message like { "status": "ok" }. This can cause the client to fail in processing the response properly.

Best Practice:
Always ensure your server sends only headers with a 204 response—no message body.

Using 204 for Pages Meant to Display Content

If a user visits a URL expecting a web page, responding with 204 will show a completely blank page—no errors, no content, just empty space. This confuses users, leads to poor user experience, and causes search engines to skip indexing the page.

Example Mistake:
An "About Us" page mistakenly returns 204 instead of 200 with HTML content, so visitors see a blank screen and search engines do not index the page.

Best Practice:
Use 200 OK for any pages intended to display content. Reserve 204 for background API calls or actions that don't require visible feedback.

Using 204 to Bypass Error Handling

Sometimes developers might send a 204 response even if an operation did not succeed, to avoid dealing with error states. This hides the problem from the client and can lead to confusion or data loss.

Example Mistake:
An API receives invalid input but responds with 204, making the client believe the request succeeded when it actually failed.

Best Practice:
Use appropriate error codes such as 400 Bad Request or 422 Unprocessable Entity for validation issues, and 500 Internal Server Error for server problems. Only send 204 when the operation truly succeeds and there is no content to return.

Ignoring the Impact on Client-Side Logic

Since 204 responses do not include a body, client applications expecting data to update the UI can break or behave unexpectedly if they receive a 204 without handling it properly.

Example Mistake:
A front-end script expects JSON data after a save operation, but the server returns 204. If the script doesn't check for 204, it may fail or show stale data.

Best Practice:
Design client-side code to handle 204 responses gracefully—treat them as success signals without data—and update the UI accordingly.

Mixing 204 with Redirects or Caching Headers Incorrectly

HTTP response codes must be consistent with other headers like redirects or cache controls. For example, sending a 204 along with a redirect status or conflicting cache instructions can lead to undefined behavior.

Example Mistake:
Returning 204 with a Location header to redirect the client, which is invalid. Redirects require 3xx status codes.

Best Practice:
Keep 204 responses simple and free of conflicting headers. If you need to redirect, use a proper redirect status code like 301 or 302.

Wrapping Up

HTTP status 204 is a fun little code that provides a clean and efficient way to signal success without sending content back. It keeps apps responsive by confirming background tasks silently and efficiently.

Used appropriately, it helps your site or app stay fast and smooth. Just avoid using it on pages that need to show content or be indexed by search engines.