HEAD

The HTTP HEAD method requests the headers that would be returned if the HEAD request's URL was instead requested with the HTTP GET method. For example, if a URL might produce a large download, a HEAD request could read its Content-Length header to check the filesize without actually downloading the file.

A response to a HEAD method should not have a body. If it has one anyway, that body must be ignored: any entity headers that might describe the erroneous body are instead assumed to describe the response which a similar GET request would have received.

If the response to a HEAD request shows that a cached URL response is now outdated, the cached copy is invalidated even if no GET request was made.

Request has body No
Successful response has body No
Safe Yes
Idempotent Yes
Cacheable Yes
Allowed in HTML forms No

Syntax

HEAD /index.html

Specifications

Specification Title
RFC 7231, section 4.3.2: HEAD Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Semantics and Content

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
HEADChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also