HTTP status code

The HTTP 414 status code stands for "URI Too Long". It is a client error response indicating that the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) requested by the client is too long for the server to process. This error typically occurs when the URL in the request exceeds the server’s maximum allowed length.

When is HTTP 414 Used?

• When a client sends a request with a URL that is excessively long, often due to long query parameters or an overly complex URL structure.
• This can happen in cases of excessive URL encoding, such as when large amounts of data are passed in the query string of a GET request.
• Some servers or proxies have limitations on the length of the URL they can process, and if the URL exceeds this limit, they return the 414 error.

Common Causes of HTTP 414 Errors

• Long query strings: When large amounts of data are passed in the URL’s query string (e.g., ?param1=value1¶m2=value2...).
• URL encoding: When long encoded strings are used in the URL, making it exceed the server’s length limit.
• Improper use of GET requests: When a large amount of data is being sent using GET instead of POST (GET requests are typically limited in length).
• Overly complex routing or path names: When the resource path in the URL is unusually long.

Example Scenarios

• A search query is passed in the URL with an excessively long list of search parameters.
• A client application improperly sends a large data payload via GET instead of POST, resulting in a long URL.
• A web service or API generates overly verbose URLs containing multiple nested parameters.

Example

Client Request (Too Long URL)

    
        GET /search?query=really+long+query+parameters+with+many+words+and+values+that+exceed+the+limit+of+what+the+server+can+handle HTTP/1.1
        Host: example.com
    

(The URL exceeds the server’s configured maximum URL length.)

Server Response (414 URI Too Long)

    
        HTTP/1.1 414 URI Too Long
        Content-Type: application/json

        {
          "error": "The URL you requested is too long. Please shorten the URL and try again."
        }
    

Best Practices for Handling HTTP 414

• Limit URL Length: Make sure URLs, including query strings, do not exceed the server’s allowed limit (usually around 2,000 characters).
• Use POST for Large Data: Instead of passing large amounts of data in the URL, use POST requests with the data in the request body.
• Avoid Excessive Query Parameters: Keep query strings simple and avoid overloading them with unnecessary data.
• Shorten Path Names: Ensure that the resource path (the part of the URL before the query string) is concise and does not contain unnecessary or redundant information.

Summary

HTTP 414 means that the URI (URL) is too long for the server to process, usually due to excessive query parameters or long data payloads passed via GET. To resolve this, the URL should be shortened, or the request should be converted to a POST method if a large amount of data is being sent.