HTTP Status Code 304
Status code 304, also known as "304 Not Modified", is a communication code between a web server and a client (like your web browser) that tells the client the requested resource hasn't changed since the last time it was accessed. This means the client can use the cached version of the resource it has stored locally, instead of downloading it all over again.
Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- Client requests a resource: Your browser asks the server for a specific file, like an image or a webpage.
- Conditional request header: The browser might also send a special header along with the request, indicating when it last retrieved that resource. This is typically done using "If-Modified-Since" or "If-None-Match" headers.
- Server checks for changes: The server receives the request and checks its records to see if the resource has been modified since the date provided in the conditional header.
- Resource not modified (304): If the resource hasn't changed, the server sends a 304 status code back to the browser. This lets the browser know it can use the locally cached copy.
- Using cached content: The browser retrieves the cached version of the resource from its local storage and displays it to you.
Overall, the 304 status code helps save time and bandwidth by avoiding unnecessary data transfer. It's an efficient way to deliver webpages that haven't been updated.
Other 3xx Status Codes
