HTTP 202 Accepted vs 204 No Content
Both HTTP 202 (Accepted) and 204 (No Content) belong to the 2xx Success category. 202 indicates that the request has been accepted for processing, but the processing has not been completed. The request might or might not eventually be acted upon. Meanwhile, 204 means that the server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content. Common for DELETE operations and form submissions that don't need a response body.
Description
The request has been accepted for processing, but the processing has not been completed. The request might or might not eventually be acted upon.
When You See It
For async operations like batch jobs, email sending, or background tasks that take time to complete.
How to Fix
Poll the provided status URL or wait for a callback/webhook.
Description
The server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content. Common for DELETE operations and form submissions that don't need a response body.
When You See It
After DELETE requests, PUT updates where no body is needed, or CORS preflight responses.
How to Fix
No fix needed. The action was successful; there is simply no content to return.
Key Differences
HTTP 202: The request has been accepted for processing, but the processing has not been completed. The request might or might not eventually be acted upon.
HTTP 204: The server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content. Common for DELETE operations and form submissions that don't need a response body.
You encounter 202 when for async operations like batch jobs, email sending, or background tasks that take time to complete.
You encounter 204 when after DELETE requests, PUT updates where no body is needed, or CORS preflight responses.
When to Use Which
For 202 (Accepted): Poll the provided status URL or wait for a callback/webhook. For 204 (No Content): No fix needed. The action was successful; there is simply no content to return.