HTTP 200 OK vs 428 Precondition Required
HTTP 200 (OK) is a 2xx Success response, while 428 (Precondition Required) is a 4xx Client Error response. 200 indicates that the request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only. In contrast, 428 means that the server requires the request to be conditional (e.g., include If-Match header) to prevent lost updates.
Description
The request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only.
When You See It
The most common HTTP response — indicates the request was processed successfully.
How to Fix
No fix needed. The request succeeded as expected.
Description
The server requires the request to be conditional (e.g., include If-Match header) to prevent lost updates.
When You See It
When an API requires optimistic concurrency control via ETags.
How to Fix
Fetch the resource first to get its ETag, then include If-Match in your update request.
Key Differences
200 is a 2xx Success response, while 428 is a 4xx Client Error response.
HTTP 200: The request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only.
HTTP 428: The server requires the request to be conditional (e.g., include If-Match header) to prevent lost updates.
You encounter 200 when the most common HTTP response — indicates the request was processed successfully.
You encounter 428 when when an API requires optimistic concurrency control via ETags.
When to Use Which
For 200 (OK): No fix needed. The request succeeded as expected. For 428 (Precondition Required): Fetch the resource first to get its ETag, then include If-Match in your update request.