What Is a 204 Status Code?

The 204 Status Code, officially called No Content, is part of the HTTP/1.1 standard. It signals that the server has successfully processed the request, but there’s no additional content to send back in the response body.

In simpler terms:
✅ The action you asked for worked.
✅ There’s nothing else you need to load or display.
✅ The current page or document can stay in place.
This makes the 204 response incredibly useful for web applications, REST APIs, and automated systems where a client (like a browser or script) needs to know that an action was successful — but doesn’t need new data sent back.

Example Contexts

After pressing “Save” in a web editor, where you stay on the same page.
When deleting a resource (like a user or file) via an API, and the client doesn’t need a detailed reply.
When sending background sync requests from a browser or app.

For SEO and performance, understanding the 204 status is critical because it optimizes bandwidth, speeds up interactions, and reduces unnecessary data transfers.

204 Code References

The 204 status code is widely used across many programming languages, libraries, and frameworks. Each ecosystem has its own constant or symbol to represent this code, making it easier for developers to work with in their projects.

Here’s a list of some common references:

Rails → :no_content
Go → http.StatusNoContent
Symfony (PHP) → Response::HTTP_NO_CONTENT
Python 2 → httplib.NO_CONTENT
Python 3 → http.client.NO_CONTENT or http.HTTPStatus.NO_CONTENT
.NET → HttpStatusCode.NoContent
Rust → http::StatusCode::NO_CONTENT
Java → HttpURLConnection.HTTP_NO_CONTENT
Angular (TypeScript) → HttpStatusCode.NoContent

Why does this matter?
Because when developers write code that interacts with web servers — whether handling API responses, building backend systems, or managing cloud applications — they need easy-to-read references. These constants save time and reduce errors by making sure developers don’t have to remember or hardcode raw numbers like 204.

By using these built-in symbols, the code stays clean, clear, and maintainable.

Related Resources

What is a 101 Status Code?
What is a 102 Status Code?
What is a 200 Status Code?
What is a 201 Status Code?
What is a 202 Status Code?
What is a 208 Status Code?
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204 Status Code Example

Let’s walk through a practical example of how the 204 No Content status code works.

Imagine you have a client (like a web app) that sends a request to delete a user from a system. This is often done using an HTTP DELETE request.

Here’s what that might look like:

Request:

DELETE https://example.com/users/123 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>

In this example, the client is telling the server,

“Please delete the user with ID 123.”

The server processes this request and successfully deletes the user.
But — and here’s the key point — there’s no additional information the server needs to send back.
There’s no body, no confirmation message, no details — just a simple acknowledgment:

“I did it.”

So, the server sends back this response:

HTTP/1.1 204 No Content
Date: Thu, 31 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT
Server: nginx

Notice that the response has headers but no body.
The client knows the request was successful because of the 204 status, but it doesn’t waste time or bandwidth downloading an empty or unnecessary payload.

This is why the 204 code is powerful:

It keeps interactions lightweight.
It’s perfect for “silent” actions, like deletes, updates, or background syncs.
It lets clients stay on the same page or interface without interruption.

What Is the Difference Between a 200 and 204 Status Code?

At first glance, 200 OK and 204 No Content might seem similar — both mean the server successfully handled the request.
But there’s a key difference:

Status Code	What It Means	What’s Included
200 OK	The request worked, and the server is returning a response body (content) — like HTML, JSON, or another data type.	Response includes content
204 No Content	The request worked, but the server has no response body to send back.	Response has no content

Let’s break it down:

Use 200 OK when:
The client expects to receive data after a successful request. For example, when making a GET request to load a webpage or an API call that returns user details.
Use 204 No Content when:
The client only needs to know the action succeeded, but doesn’t need any extra data. This is often the case with DELETE requests, save actions, or background updates.

Why does this matter?

Choosing the right status code improves:

Performance (by avoiding unnecessary data transfer)
Clarity (developers and systems know exactly what happened)
Efficiency (especially when handling large numbers of API calls or automated tasks)

In short, 204 keeps things lean when no extra content is required, while 200 provides detailed responses when needed.

Real-World Use Cases and Developer Insights

The 204 status code isn’t just a technical detail — it’s a practical tool used across many real-world systems to make things faster, smoother, and more efficient. Let’s look at where and why it’s used.

1. Deleting Resources in APIs

When you delete a record (like a user, file, or post) using an API, you often get a 204 response.
Why?
Because once the deletion is complete, there’s no need to send extra confirmation in the response body. The 204 lets the client know,

“The deletion worked. No further content is coming.”

2. Saving Edits in Web Apps

Some web applications use 204 responses after a “save” action.
For example, when you edit a document online and click Save, the server saves the changes but keeps you on the same page, ready to continue editing. A 204 tells the browser:

“Save successful — stay here, no reload needed.”

3. Background Sync and Silent Updates

Modern apps often send background sync requests — small updates that happen silently behind the scenes.
In these cases, the client doesn’t need or expect content back.
The 204 code is perfect because it signals success without adding unnecessary data to the network.

4. Version Control Systems

Distributed systems like Git can use 204 responses when syncing repositories or pushing changes. These systems often perform actions where no content needs to come back — only a confirmation that the operation succeeded.

In all these situations, the 204 status code helps developers design applications that are faster, lighter, and more efficient.
It’s about doing more with less — confirming success without wasting bandwidth or processing time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does a 204 status code mean?

A 204 status code means the server successfully processed the request, but there’s no content to return in the response body. The client knows the action was successful but doesn’t receive any additional data or page changes.

How is 204 different from 200?

A 200 status code includes a response body with content (like HTML or JSON), while a 204 status code has no response body at all. Both indicate success, but 204 is used when no extra data needs to be sent back.

When should I use a 204 response?

Use a 204 response when the client only needs confirmation that the request worked — such as after a DELETE, a background sync, or a save action — but doesn’t need any new content or details in return.

Is a 204 response cacheable?

Yes, a 204 response is cacheable by default unless specific cache-control headers override this. This means that intermediaries or browsers can cache the “no content” response if the server allows it.

Can a 204 response include headers?

Yes, a 204 response can include headers like ETag, Date, or Server. However, it cannot include a message body — the first empty line after the headers ends the response.