HTTP 414 URI Too Long indicates the request URL exceeds the server's limit. While HTTP doesn't specify a maximum URL length, servers impose practical limits: Apache defaults to 8190 bytes, nginx to 8KB, IIS to 16KB, and most browsers cap at 2048 characters. This typically occurs when query parameters accumulate excessively, such as passing large datasets via GET instead of POST.
Response includes the status code, standard headers (including Content-Type), and a small diagnostic JSON body describing the request and returned status.
Simulator URL (copy in the app after load — not a normal link):
https://httpstatus.com/api/status/414
Example request:
curl -i "https://httpstatus.com/api/status/414"The URI provided was too long for the server to process.
On this code, Inspector focuses on semantics, headers, and correctness warnings that commonly affect clients and caches.
HTTP 414 URI Too Long has specific technical implications for API design, caching, and client behavior. Understanding the precise semantics helps distinguish it from similar status codes and implement correct error handling. The response should include a descriptive body following a consistent error schema (like RFC 7807 Problem Details) so clients can programmatically handle the error.
// Handle 414 URI Too Long in Express
app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
if (err.status === 414) {
return res.status(414).json({
type: 'https://api.example.com/errors/uri-too-long',
title: 'URI Too Long',
status: 414,
detail: err.message
});
}
next(err);
});from fastapi import HTTPException
# Raise 414 URI Too Long
raise HTTPException(
status_code=414,
detail={
'type': 'uri_too_long',
'message': 'Descriptive error for 414 URI Too Long'
}
)// Spring Boot 414 URI Too Long handling
@ExceptionHandler(CustomURITooLongException.class)
public ResponseEntity<ErrorResponse> handleURITooLong(
CustomURITooLongException ex) {
return ResponseEntity.status(414)
.body(new ErrorResponse("URI Too Long", ex.getMessage()));
}// Return 414 URI Too Long
func errorHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, message string) {
w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
w.WriteHeader(414)
json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{
"status": 414,
"error": "URI Too Long",
"message": message,
})
}