HTTP 302 Found vs 506 Variant Also Negotiates
HTTP 302 (Found) is a 3xx Redirection response, while 506 (Variant Also Negotiates) is a 5xx Server Error response. 302 indicates that the resource temporarily resides at a different URL. The client should continue using the original URL for future requests. In contrast, 506 means that the server has an internal configuration error: the chosen variant resource is configured to engage in content negotiation itself.
Description
The resource temporarily resides at a different URL. The client should continue using the original URL for future requests.
When You See It
During A/B testing, temporary maintenance pages, or geo-based redirects.
How to Fix
Follow the Location header. Note: browsers may change POST to GET on redirect.
Description
The server has an internal configuration error: the chosen variant resource is configured to engage in content negotiation itself.
When You See It
Rare. Indicates a misconfigured server-side content negotiation loop.
How to Fix
Fix the server's content negotiation configuration.
Key Differences
302 is a 3xx Redirection response, while 506 is a 5xx Server Error response.
HTTP 302: The resource temporarily resides at a different URL. The client should continue using the original URL for future requests.
HTTP 506: The server has an internal configuration error: the chosen variant resource is configured to engage in content negotiation itself.
You encounter 302 when during A/B testing, temporary maintenance pages, or geo-based redirects.
You encounter 506 when rare. Indicates a misconfigured server-side content negotiation loop.
When to Use Which
For 302 (Found): Follow the Location header. Note: browsers may change POST to GET on redirect. For 506 (Variant Also Negotiates): Fix the server's content negotiation configuration.