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ENPT

HTTP status code · Success (2xx)

205 Reset Content

205 Reset Content means the request succeeded and the client should reset the view that sent it, for example clearing a form so the user can type the next record. Like 204 it has no body, but browsers do not reliably clear the form for you, so it is rarely used outside custom clients.

Facts about this status code
Class2xx, Success
Defined inRFC 9110 §15.3.6
Cacheable by defaultOnly with explicit Cache-Control or Expires
Safe to retryNo need; the request succeeded
Relevant headersNone specific to this code

What 205 means

RFC 9110, section 15.3.6, describes a data entry loop: the user fills a form, notepad or canvas, submits it, and the input area is reset for the next entry. A server MUST NOT send content in a 205.

Because browser behavior is inconsistent, treat 205 as a signal your own JavaScript acts on: if (res.status === 205) form.reset().

When to use it

  • Repetitive data entry screens (inventory counts, survey kiosks, point-of-sale notes) whose client code resets the form on 205.

How to send 205

Express (Node.js)
app.post('/entries', (req, res) => {
  res.status(205).end();
});
Next.js App Router route handler
// app/entries/route.ts
export async function POST() {
  return new Response(null, { status: 205 });
}
Go net/http
mux.HandleFunc("POST /entries", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusResetContent) // 205
})
Python FastAPI
from fastapi import FastAPI, Response

app = FastAPI()

@app.post("/entries")
def add_entry():
    return Response(status_code=205)

Commonly confused with

205 vs 204
204 says "done, keep the page as it is"; 205 says "done, now clear the input so it is ready again".
205 vs 200
A 200 can return data, such as the saved record; a 205 must not carry any.

Frequently asked questions

Does the browser clear the form when it receives a 205?
Not reliably. Browsers generally treat it like 204 and stay on the page. Reset the form in your own code when fetch() returns 205.
Can a 205 response include a body?
No. RFC 9110 says a server MUST NOT generate content in a 205 response, so send it with no body at all.
When should I use 205 instead of 204?
When you control the client and want the server to decide that the input view should be reset after a successful submission. Otherwise 204 is the more widely understood choice.

Last reviewed by Arielton Oberek.