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Q246921: HTTP 204 Response Returns Message-Body to Client

Article: Q246921
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 04-FEB-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you browse an empty Active Server Pages (ASP) page, a message body is
returned in addition to a 204 response.

CAUSE
=====

This is by design. IIS usually returns "friendly" HTTP responses with error
codes. However, in the case of a "204 No Content" error message, this is
different from the HTTP/1.1 specification detailed in the Request For Comment
(RFC) number 2616 as follows:

  "The 204 response MUST NOT include a message-body, and thus is always
  terminated by the first empty line after the header fields."

WORKAROUND
==========

When an empty page needs to be returned to client, use an empty text or HTML
file (for example Empty.txt, Empty.htm, and so on).

MORE INFORMATION
================

For more information on this topic, please see section 10.2.5 of the HTTP/1.1
specification in RFC 2616 at the following URL:

  http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616.html


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis500
Version           : winnt:5.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbpending

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