HTTP 300 Multiple Choices

HTTP 300 Multiple Choices indicates there are multiple representations of the requested resource, and the user or user agent can select a preferred one. The server may indicate a preferred choice via the Location header. This is rarely used in practice — content negotiation (Accept headers) handles most cases where multiple representations exist. The most common scenario is when a resource exists in multiple formats (HTML, JSON, PDF) and the server cannot determine which one the client wants.

Debug HTTP 300 live
Analyze real 300 behavior — headers, caching, CORS, redirects
Open Inspector →

Try it (live endpoint)

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/300

Example request:

curl -i "https://httpstatus.com/api/status/300"
Try in playground

Meaning

The request has more than one possible representation. The client should choose one (rarely used in practice).

What it guarantees
  • A different URI is involved to complete the intent.
What it does NOT guarantee
  • All clients will automatically follow the redirect.
  • The redirect target is safe to cache unless headers allow it.

When to use this status

  • A resource is available at a different URI and the client should follow it.
  • Canonicalizing paths (slash, www/non-www, http→https).
  • Moving content between endpoints and updating bookmarks.

When NOT to use this status (common misuses)

Redirecting without a stable Location target.
Clients fail to follow; crawlers lose canonical signals.
Using 301/302 for non-GET methods without understanding method rewriting.
Clients can drop bodies or change methods, causing data loss and client bugs.
Redirect loops or long chains.
Crawlers waste crawl budget; clients hang; retries amplify load.

Critical headers that matter

Location
Tells clients where to go next.
Redirects fail or loop; crawlers lose canonical target.
Cache-Control
Controls whether redirects are cached.
Temporary redirects become sticky; permanent redirects never stick.
Vary
Prevents caches mixing redirect variants.
CDNs serve the wrong redirect for different hosts/headers.

Tool interpretation

Browsers
Follows Location for navigations; redirect caching can make behavior sticky. Redirect code choice affects method/body handling.
API clients
May not auto-follow; strict clients require explicit redirect handling. Incorrect redirect semantics can drop bodies or change methods.
Crawlers / SEO tools
Uses redirects for canonicalization; long chains/loops waste crawl budget and dilute signals.
Uptime monitors
Typically marks success; advanced checks may flag header anomalies or latency.
CDNs / reverse proxies
Can cache redirects; Location/Vary/Cache-Control correctness drives global consistency.

Inspector preview (read-only)

On this code, Inspector focuses on semantics, headers, and correctness warnings that commonly affect clients and caches.

Signals it will highlight
  • Status semantics vs method and body expectations
  • Header sanity (Content-Type, Cache-Control, Vary) and evidence completeness
  • Redirect chain length, loops, Location presence, protocol safety
Correctness warnings
No common correctness warnings are specific to this code.

Guided Lab outcome

  • Reproduce HTTP 300 Multiple Choices using a controlled endpoint and capture the full exchange.
  • Practice distinguishing status semantics from transport issues (redirects, caching, proxies).
  • Validate redirect correctness (Location, hop count, protocol safety) and SEO impact.

Technical deep dive

300 Multiple Choices (RFC 7231 Section 6.4.1) is the only 3xx status that doesn't redirect to a single target. The response body SHOULD contain a list of resource URIs and metadata so the user can choose. If the server has a preferred representation, it SHOULD include a Location header. Browsers typically follow the Location header automatically, making 300 behave like a redirect in practice. Content negotiation via Accept headers (proactive negotiation) has largely replaced 300 (reactive negotiation). The HTML spec suggests using a <select> element for user choice, but this was never widely implemented.

Real-world examples

Common 300 Multiple Choices scenario 1
When a server returns 300 Multiple Choices, it signals specific behavior that clients and intermediaries must handle correctly. For example, in web applications, this status is commonly encountered during URL routing, content negotiation, or resource management operations.
CDN and proxy behavior with 300
CDNs and reverse proxies handle 300 Multiple Choices according to their configuration. The caching and forwarding behavior depends on whether the status is cacheable by default (per RFC 7231) and the presence of Cache-Control headers. Misconfigured intermediaries can cause redirect loops or cache stale redirects.
API design with 300 Multiple Choices
In RESTful API design, 300 Multiple Choices serves a specific semantic purpose. API gateways may intercept and modify these responses for versioning, rate limiting, or traffic management. Understanding when to use 300 versus similar status codes is critical for correct client behavior.

Framework behavior

Express.js (Node)
Express: res.redirect(300, 'https://new-url.com'). For 301/308 permanent: ensure the Location header is correct as browsers may cache it permanently.
Django / DRF (Python)
Django: return HttpResponseRedirect('/new-url/', status=300) or use the shortcut redirect() with permanent parameter for 301/308.
Spring Boot (Java)
Spring: return ResponseEntity.status(300).header("Location", "/new-url").build(). Spring's RedirectView can be configured with specific status codes.
FastAPI (Python)
FastAPI: return RedirectResponse(url='/new-url', status_code=300). For API redirects, ensure the client follows redirects with method preservation when using 307/308.

Debugging guide

  1. Check the Location header value — typos or relative URLs in Location can cause redirect loops or 404s
  2. Verify caching behavior: NOT cacheable by default — check Cache-Control headers
  3. Test with curl -v -L to follow redirects and see the full chain
  4. Check for redirect chains — each hop adds latency; aim for direct redirects
  5. Monitor for method preservation — 300 must keep the original method

Code snippets

Node.js
app.get('/old-path', (req, res) => {
  res.redirect(300, '/new-path');
});
Python
from fastapi.responses import RedirectResponse

@app.get('/old-path')
async def old_path():
    return RedirectResponse('/new-path', status_code=300)
Java (Spring)
@GetMapping("/old-path")
public ResponseEntity<Void> oldPath() {
    return ResponseEntity.status(300)
        .header("Location", "/new-path")
        .build();
}
Go
func oldPathHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
	http.Redirect(w, r, "/new-path", 300)
}

FAQ

When should I use 300 Multiple Choices vs other redirect codes?
300 Multiple Choices is temporary and has specific semantics. Choose based on permanence (will the redirect stay?) and method preservation (does POST need to stay POST?).
How do search engines handle 300 Multiple Choices?
Search engines have minimal interaction with this status code.
Is 300 Multiple Choices cacheable?
300 has special caching considerations depending on the implementation.
What are common pitfalls with 300 Multiple Choices?
Common issues include: redirect loops (A→B→A), missing Location header, relative vs absolute URLs in Location, browser compatibility issues, and excessive redirect chains that add latency.

Client expectation contract

Client can assume
  • A different URI is involved; Location may be required.
Client must NOT assume
  • Redirects will be followed automatically by all clients.
Retry behavior
Retries are generally unnecessary; treat as final unless domain rules require revalidation.
Monitoring classification
Redirect (policy-dependent)
Validate Location, caching headers, and chain behavior. Redirect loops/chains should alert.

Related status codes

301 Moved Permanently
The URL of the requested resource has been changed permanently.
226 IM Used
The server has fulfilled a GET request using delta encoding. The response represents the result of one or more instance-manipulations applied to the current instance.

Explore more

Related guides
Related tools
Related utilities