DOCUMENT:Q246921 04-FEB-2000 [iis] TITLE :HTTP 204 Response Returns Message-Body to Client PRODUCT :Internet Information Server PROD/VER:winnt:5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you browse an empty Active Server Pages (ASP) page, a message body is returned in addition to a 204 response. CAUSE ===== This is by design. IIS usually returns "friendly" HTTP responses with error codes. However, in the case of a "204 No Content" error message, this is different from the HTTP/1.1 specification detailed in the Request For Comment (RFC) number 2616 as follows: "The 204 response MUST NOT include a message-body, and thus is always terminated by the first empty line after the header fields." WORKAROUND ========== When an empty page needs to be returned to client, use an empty text or HTML file (for example Empty.txt, Empty.htm, and so on). MORE INFORMATION ================ For more information on this topic, please see section 10.2.5 of the HTTP/1.1 specification in RFC 2616 at the following URL: http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616.html Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbiisSearch kbiis500 Version : winnt:5.0 Issue type : kbprb Solution Type : kbpending ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.