What Status Code Is 304 and How Does It Work?

What status code is 304? It is your browser and the server having a polite conversation and agreeing not to repeat themselves. A webpage prompts your browser upon every visit. The server does its duty and checks any changes on the page since your last visit. The server then responds with HTTP 304 Not Modified if nothing new is detected. The browser then uses the cached version in such a scenario. Result? Faster loading. Fewer resources. Less drama.

What Is the “304 Not Modified” Status Code and How to Fix It?

The browser sends a request to the web server the moment you enter a URL. This request includes an If Modified Since header. That tells the server the date and time of the last version stored in the browser cache.

The server checks the Last Modified timestamp. Responds according to the detected information. Detection of no change pushes the server to return an HTTP 304 Not Modified response. A fine move instead of sending the full page again.

The 304 Not Modified status code means that the requested resource is unchanged. The browser loads the stored cached version. Saves it the hassle to download the page again. This reduces bandwidth usage and speeds up page loading. It minimizes unnecessary server requests.

5 Methods to Fix the 304 Status Code That You Need to Follow

There are five practical ways to address the 304 Not Modified HTTP status code. The issue occurs on the visitor’s side. Something the website owner cannot fix. You can still recommend the following solutions to help resolve it.

1. Clear Your Browser Cache

Clear the browser cache and cookies and stored browsing data. Browsers save temporary files to hasten page loading. Outdated or corrupted cache files can prevent updated content from appearing.

Cache clearance removes all stored temporary data. The browser fetches a fresh version of the page from the server. This resolves display issues and improves browser performance. Storage space is freed up in the process.

To clear the cache in Google Chrome:

1. Click Customize and control Google Chrome.
2. Go to History.
3. Click Clear browsing data.
4. Select a Time range. Choose All time for a complete cleanup
5. Check the following options:

• Browsing history
• Cookies and other site data
• Cached images and files

6. Click Clear data.

Steps may vary a bit by browser. Most modern browsers follow a similar process.

2. Flush the DNS

Operating systems also store cache data in the Domain Name System cache. This cache contains records such as hostnames and IP addresses and resource information. It allows websites to load faster on repeat visits.

Each DNS record has a validity period known as Time to Live. Bad DNS cache entries cause connection issues and security risks. They may also trigger HTTP responses like 304 Not Modified.

Flushing the DNS clears these stored records. It also forces the system to retrieve fresh DNS information.

To flush DNS in Google Chrome:

1. Enter chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
2. Click Clear host cache.

Chrome maintains its own DNS cache. It is also important to flush the DNS at the operating system level.

To flush DNS on Windows:

1. Click Start. Windows System. Command Prompt.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   ipconfig /flushdns
3. A confirmation message will show upon the completion of the process.

Commands specific to systems are used to make DNS flushing possible on macOS and Linux.

3. Check Redirect Instructions in .htaccess

Did previous methods not resolve the issue? The problem may lie in the server configuration. More so in redirect rules.

Do not troubleshoot yet. Determine first whether your server uses Apache or NGINX:

• NGINX: .htaccess files are not used. Review server configuration files and error logs to identify redirect issues.
• Apache: Redirect rules are expected in the .htaccess file located in the root directory of your site.

To test .htaccess on Apache:

1. Log in to your hosting File Manager.
2. Navigate to the public_html directory.
3. Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_disabled.
4. Check the website and see if the 304 status code disappears.
5. Rename the file back to .htaccess to enable it again.

Review the redirect rules with a developer. Do that only if disabling the file resolves the issue. Even minor misconfigurations can cause caching or redirect conflicts.

4. Run a Malware Scan

Another potential reason for the 304 Not Modified status code is malware or a virus infection. The ones within the browser or operating system. Malicious software can interfere with request headers. Communication can be disrupted between the browser and server in this way.

Run a malware scan to help identify and remove these threats.

To scan using Google Chrome on Windows:

1. Open Chrome and go to Settings. About Chrome

1. Ensure Chrome is updated. Click Relaunch if prompted.
2. Open a new tab and enter:
   chrome://settings/cleanup
3. Click Find to start the scan.

Other browsers like Firefox and Edge do not include integrated malware scanners. Use trusted antivirus software installed on your system for macOS and Linux or alternative browsers.

5. Disable Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can interfere with requests and server communication. They trigger HTTP 304 responses.

Disabling extensions helps identify whether one of them causes the issue.

Steps vary by browser:

• Google Chrome:
  Go to Settings. Extensions. Disable extensions through the toggle switch. Remove unused or outdated ones if necessary.

• Mozilla Firefox:
  Open the menu. Add-ons. Select Plugins. Set problematic plugins to Never Activate.

• Safari:
  Open Preferences. Extensions. Deselect extensions or uninstall those you no longer need.

• Microsoft Edge:
  Open Settings and more. Extensions. Disable extensions through the toggle switch.

Restart the browser and revisit the affected page after disabling extensions. Enable extensions again if the issue is resolved. One at a time to identify the source of the problem.

What Are HTTP Status Codes? How Does a Web Server Deal with Them?

HTTP status codes are short numeric responses. A web server sends these responses to indicate the result of a request. They tell you whether the request was successful or redirected or failed.

These codes are grouped into five main categories. Each represents a different type of response:

• 1xx status codes indicate informational responses.
  
• 2xx status codes confirm successful requests.
  
• 3xx status codes relate to redirects.
  
• 4xx status codes indicate client errors.
  
• 5xx status codes represent server-side errors.
  

There are many HTTP status codes. Most users encounter a small number of them. The appearance of a response code signals that some action or investigation may be required.

An example is that 4xx codes indicate client issues like 403 Forbidden. Shows how access to the requested resource is denied. 2xx codes like HTTP 200 OK confirm that a request was processed.

3xx codes deal with redirection. Codes like 301 and 302 are used for permanent and temporary redirects. They guide browsers and search engines to a different URL.

Why HTTP 304 Can Be Helpful and Risky?

HTTP 304 responses can improve performance by leagues and miles. More so for websites with a large number of pages. Prevention of unnecessary data transfers speeds up page delivery and reduces server load. This improves the overall user experience.

They also help search engines crawl websites. Unchanged pages do not need to be downloaded again. Search engines can focus their crawl budget on new or updated content. HTTP 304 responses can prevent users from seeing updated content when misconfigured. They make pages appear broken or outdated.

You may check out Ultahost’s vast self-help resources. Alternatively, you may contact our support team for further queries.

What Causes the “304 Not Modified” Status Code?

A 304 Not Modified response can originate from either the server or the client side. The cause lies on the user’s device rather than the server itself in most cases. It limits what site owners can fix.

Common reasons a user may receive a 304 Not Modified status code include:

• A virus or malware infection interferes with browser behaviour. Requests headers and caching mechanisms.
  
• Recent software installation or removal may corrupt system files or registry entries. It affects browser communication and cache handling.
  
• Corrupted applications or browser files can prevent the browser from storing or updating cached content.
  

Understanding these causes helps website owners fix an HTTP 304 Not Modified Status Code. It also helps them guide users toward effective troubleshooting steps even when the issue is not under their control.

Conclusion

Now you can answer well when someone asks what status code is 304? It is a smart efficiency signal instead of a warning sign. HTTP 304 Not Modified helps websites load faster and saves bandwidth. This improves crawl efficiency when configured well. It is a sign that caching is working as intended and something is not broken. A professional like Ultahost can always answer such queries and provide additional tips on the matter.

Frequently Asked Questions