Safe and idempotent
HEAD HTTP Method
HEAD requests retrieve response headers without returning the response body.
Meaning
The client asks for the same headers as GET, but without the response body.
Common uses
Use HEAD to check whether a resource exists, inspect metadata, or validate cache state without downloading the body.
What to check
Check that the headers match GET behavior and that the server does not accidentally send a body.
Example request
HEAD /articles/123 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.comProperties
- Safe
- Yes. A safe method is intended only to read data.
- Idempotent
- Yes. Repeating the same request should have the same intended effect.
- Cacheable
- Yes
- Request body
- Usually no
References
- Registry
- IANA HTTP Method Registry
- Guide
- MDN HEAD