Identical to GET but the server returns only headers, with no response body. Useful for checking existence, size or freshness.
Quick facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Safe (does not modify state) | Yes |
| Idempotent (repeatable) | Yes |
| Cacheable | Yes |
Description
Identical to GET but the server returns only headers, with no response body. Useful for checking existence, size or freshness.
Example
curl -I https://api.example.com/users/1
Request example
HEAD /api/users/1 HTTP/1.1 Host: example.com
HEAD vs GET
| HEAD | GET |
|---|---|
| Headers only, no body | Returns the full body |
| Same status as GET | Same status as HEAD |
All HTTP methods
Frequently asked questions
HEAD is a safe method — it does not change resource state on the server.
HEAD is idempotent — repeated requests have the same effect as a single request.
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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Related status codes
Related headers