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Is an empty body with a non-zero Content-Length header valid for a HTTP HEAD request?

I encountered a pcap file involving HTTP HEAD request. The response (packet 6) has a HTTP header Content-Length being 163 but there is no body. Packet 7 is another request. Wonder if this is a valid HTTP transaction.

File: https://www.cloudshark.org/captures/f5349e67266c

Thanks.

http

asked 13 Jul '15, 07:24

pktUser1001
201●49●50●54
accept rate: 12%

edited 14 Jul '15, 05:52

Lekensteyn
2.2k●3●7●24

One Answer:

Yes, it is. This HTTP feature is intended for just that, getting URL meta information (like its size) from the source without actually getting the object. It would defeat its purpose if the Content-Length would be 0 then.