How to Fix 204 Error Code: Causes, Solutions, and Best Practices

If you’ve ever made a request to a website or API and got a response that felt like “nothing happened,” you may have run into the 204 Error Code. It can be confusing because it often shows up when things are technically working, but the page, app, or script looks blank. And if you’re testing APIs, it can feel even worse because you expect data, but you get silence.

In this guide, you’ll learn what the 204 Error Code means, why it happens, how to fix it in real-world scenarios, and how to prevent it with best practices. I’ll keep it practical, human, and focused on what actually works when you’re troubleshooting under pressure.

What Is the 204 Error Code?

The 204 Error Code is an HTTP status response that means “No Content.” In plain terms:

• The server successfully processed the request
• The request was valid
• But the server is intentionally returning no response body

That last part matters. A 204 response can be completely normal for some actions, like deleting a record or saving a form when the server doesn’t need to send any data back.

Quick definition (for clarity)

A 204 Error Code is not always an error. It’s a successful HTTP response that says: “Everything’s fine, but there’s nothing to display.”

Authoritative reference sources used by developers for HTTP behavior include RFC standards such as RFC 9110 (HTTP Semantics) and documentation like MDN Web Docs (HTTP response status codes).

Is 204 an Error or a Success?

Technically, it’s a success status code in the 2xx range. But users and developers often call it an “error” because it can break expectations:

• A page loads blank
• Your JavaScript app doesn’t update
• Postman shows “204 No Content” when you expected JSON
• A mobile app spinner keeps spinning because it never receives data

So while it’s not a server failure, it can still be a problem in your system design, frontend logic, or API contract.

Common Causes of 204 Error Code

Let’s talk about why it appears in the first place. The cause depends on whether you’re a regular user, a site owner, or a developer working with APIs.

1) The API is designed to return no body

Many APIs use 204 responses for actions like:

• DELETE requests (delete a record)
• PUT/PATCH requests (update without returning the updated object)
• POST requests (submit data and rely on the frontend to refresh later)

If your frontend expects JSON but receives nothing, it can crash or silently fail.

2) Your backend returns 204 by mistake

This happens when:

• A controller returns empty data and the framework converts it to 204
• A route handler ends without returning a response body
• The code returns null, undefined, or an empty value, and your framework interprets it as “no content”

3) Frontend fetch/AJAX is trying to parse empty JSON

This is a classic one. Your code does something like:

• Fetch data
• Call response.json()
• But the response body is empty because it’s 204
• Result: a parsing error or unhandled exception

4) Caching, proxies, or CDN behavior

Sometimes the origin server behaves correctly, but something in the middle changes the behavior:

• Reverse proxies
• CDN edge caching rules
• Misconfigured headers

A cached 204 can be especially confusing if the backend later starts returning content but users keep seeing no content.

5) Browser extensions or client-side blocking

Ad blockers, privacy extensions, and corporate security filters can interfere with requests and responses. It’s less common, but it happens enough to be worth checking, especially if the issue is only happening on some machines.

Where You’ll See 204 Error Code in Real Life

Here are a few common scenarios:

• Web apps: Button click triggers a request, but UI doesn’t update
• Forms: Form submit succeeds, but user sees blank page or no success message
• APIs in Postman: You see “204 No Content” when testing endpoints
• Mobile apps: API calls succeed, but app shows empty state
• SEO and crawling tools: Sometimes a page endpoint returns 204, and it looks like the page disappeared

How to Diagnose 204 Error Code Step by Step

When you’re troubleshooting, don’t guess. Confirm what’s happening.

Step 1: Confirm the request in DevTools (web)

Open your browser DevTools:

• Go to Network tab
• Trigger the action that causes the issue
• Click the request and check:
  • Status code (204)
  • Response headers
  • Response tab (it will be empty)

Key thing to look for: if your app expects content, but the response is intentionally empty.

Step 2: Test the endpoint directly

Use a tool like curl or Postman.

What you want to verify:

• Does the endpoint always return 204?
• Only sometimes?
• Only for certain input?
• Only when authenticated?

Step 3: Check server logs for the route

On the backend, check:

• Was the controller hit?
• Did it exit early?
• Did it throw an exception but still send 204?
• Are you returning empty values accidentally?

Step 4: Inspect your frontend code for JSON parsing

If you see errors like “Unexpected end of JSON input,” your frontend is probably attempting to parse an empty body.

Fixes for 204 Error Code (Based on Your Situation)

Fix 1: If you’re a regular user seeing blank content

If you’re just trying to load something and it’s blank:

• Hard refresh the page
• Clear site cache for that domain
• Try incognito mode (disables most extensions)
• Disable ad blocker and try again
• Try another network (sometimes corporate proxies interfere)

If it’s a specific app feature, the issue is likely in how the app handles “no content” responses.

Fix 2: If you are a developer and expected JSON but got 204

This is the most common developer pain point.

If your endpoint is supposed to return data, change the response contract:

• Return 200 OK with a JSON body
• Or return 201 Created with content for new resources
• Or return 204 only when your client is designed to handle it

Fix 3: Handle 204 correctly in fetch/AJAX

A good client should check for 204 before parsing.

Here’s the idea in plain English:

• If status is 204, do not call .json()
• Update UI based on success
• If you need updated content, trigger a fresh GET request

Fix 4: Make backend behavior explicit

Backends sometimes return 204 “automatically” when data is empty. This can be dangerous because it hides bugs.

Better approach:

• If data is expected but missing, return 404 Not Found
• If request is valid but no results, return 200 OK with an empty array or empty object depending on your contract
• Use 204 only when “no content” is truly the desired outcome

Fix 5: Fix caching and CDN rules (if 204 is stuck)

If users keep seeing no content even after backend fixes:

• Purge CDN cache for the affected route
• Ensure caching headers are correct
• Avoid caching 204 responses for dynamic endpoints unless you really mean it

Best Practices to Prevent 204 No Content Problems

This is where teams save time long-term.

1) Define API response contracts clearly

If an endpoint returns 204, everyone should know:

• When it returns 204
• What the client should do after receiving it
• Whether the client should refresh data

When contracts are vague, frontend developers assume JSON will exist and build around that assumption.

2) Use 204 intentionally (not accidentally)

204 is best for operations where a body adds no value:

• DELETE success
• PUT/PATCH where the client already has the latest state
• “Mark as read” type actions where no content is needed

3) Return consistent response shapes for list endpoints

For list endpoints, it’s usually better to return:

• 200 with [] for empty results
  Instead of:
• 204 with no body

Because empty arrays are easy and safe for clients to handle.

4) Avoid JSON parsing errors in clients

Teach your client layer to handle empty bodies gracefully. This is especially important in:

• Single Page Applications
• Mobile apps
• Server-to-server integrations

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5) Monitor and alert on unexpected 204 spikes

If you run analytics on API responses, a sudden spike of 204 responses on a data endpoint can indicate:

• A bug in the backend
• A broken database query
• A misrouted request
• An authentication issue that incorrectly returns 204

Even though 204 is “success,” it can be a symptom of failure in your business logic.

204 Error Code vs Other Similar Status Codes

This comparison helps you choose the right code and troubleshoot faster.

Common Scenarios and How to Fix Them

Scenario A: Form submit returns 204 and page looks broken

What’s happening:

• Backend returns 204 after saving
• Browser does not receive content to render
• User gets a blank-looking response

Fix:

• If it’s a traditional form submit, return a redirect (3xx) or return 200 with a success page
• If it’s AJAX submit, keep 204 but show a toast message and update UI without expecting a body

Scenario B: Postman shows 204 but you expected JSON

What’s happening:

• The endpoint is coded to return 204 on success
• Or it returns empty values and the framework converts it to 204

Fix:

• Adjust the endpoint to return 200 with JSON, even if it’s a small confirmation object like { "success": true }
• Or update your API documentation so the 204 is expected and handled by clients

Scenario C: Frontend crashes due to JSON parsing

What’s happening:

• Code assumes a JSON body
• But 204 has no body by definition

Fix:

• Check for 204 before calling JSON parsing
• Use UI state updates based on status code

Scenario D: 204 is returned only sometimes

What’s happening:

• Conditional logic returns empty response for some inputs
• Database query returns nothing and code treats it as “no content”

Fix:

• Decide whether “no results” should be 200 with empty array, or 404 for “not found”
• Ensure your backend returns explicit outcomes

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

If you want a fast mental checklist, use this:

• Confirm it’s really a 204 response (DevTools or Postman)
• Decide if 204 is correct for that endpoint
• If client expects JSON, fix client parsing
• If endpoint should return data, change backend to 200 with a body
• Check caching if 204 seems “stuck”
• Update API docs so behavior is consistent and predictable

FAQ: 204 Error Code

What does 204 Error Code mean?

It means the server successfully processed the request but is returning no response body.

Is 204 Error Code bad?

Not inherently. It’s a valid success status. It becomes a problem when your app expects content or your UI doesn’t handle it properly.

Why does my browser show blank content with 204?

Because a 204 response includes no body to display. If a page route returns 204, the browser has nothing to render.

Should I return 204 or 200 for empty results?

For list endpoints, 200 with an empty array is often more practical. 204 is better when no content is the intended outcome of a successful action.

Can a 204 response include JSON?

By definition, 204 responses should not include a message body. If you need JSON, return 200.

Conclusion: Fixing 204 Error Code the Right Way

The 204 Error Code is one of those status responses that can be perfectly correct and still cause headaches. The fix is rarely about “making it go away” and more about aligning expectations between your server and your client. Once you know whether the endpoint should return content or intentionally return none, the solution becomes straightforward: handle 204 gracefully in the frontend, and make backend responses explicit and consistent.

If you treat 204 as a deliberate design choice instead of a surprise, your app becomes more stable, your debugging time drops, and users stop seeing blank screens after actions that actually succeeded.

For deeper context on HTTP status responses, you can also review the official listing of codes on HTTP and compare when 204 is appropriate versus 200 or 404.