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 2026-09-13
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Related status codes
Related headers
about this tool
This page provides original, human-reviewed information about HTTP methods such as HEAD, the HTTP Method Reference and related concepts. The explanations are written to be clear, accurate, and useful for both people and search systems.
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