Rest error message in HTTP Header or Response Body?

HttpRestHttp Error

Http Problem Overview


I have a REST service that is exposed to iPhone and Android clients. Currently I follow the HTTP codes 200, 400, 401, 403, 404, 409, 500 etc.

My question is where is the recommended place to put the reason/description/cause of the error? Does it make more sense for the REST API to always have custom Reason in the header like so?

< HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request - Missing Required Parameters.
< Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:09:06 GMT
< Server: Apache/2.2.22 (Ubuntu)
< Connection: close
< Transfer-Encoding: chunked

Or is it better to have it in the Response Body via JSON?

< HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
< Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:09:06 GMT
< Server: Apache/2.2.22 (Ubuntu)
< Connection: close
< Transfer-Encoding: chunked
< Content-Type: application/json
{ "error" : "Missing Required Parameters" }

Http Solutions


Solution 1 - Http

Quoting from the HTTP specification for 400.x error codes:

> The 4xx class of status code is intended for cases in which the client > seems to have erred. Except when responding to a HEAD request, the > server SHOULD include an entity containing an explanation of the error > situation, and whether it is a temporary or permanent condition. These > status codes are applicable to any request method. User agents SHOULD > display any included entity to the user.

It is best practice to include the error message as an entity in the body of the HTTP response - be it JSON, plain text, formatted HTML, or whatever other format you may want to utilize.

Solution 2 - Http

It is better to have error details in the body. Furthermore, many (most / almost all, eg. WSGI) servers and clients do not support changing the name of the error code - treat them as fixed pairs (so eg. 400 is always "Bad Request" and not "Bad Request - You Forgot To Specify The User ID"). Even if they won't break, they won't care about your special name for specific error code.

Solution 3 - Http

The error does not belong in the body. It belongs in the Warning header.

> The Warning general HTTP header contains information about possible > problems with the status of the message.

Reference

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionJames CowhenView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - HttpPerceptionView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - HttpTadeckView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - HttpB SevenView Answer on Stackoverflow