414 URI Too Long HTTP Status Code

Description

HTTP status code 414 is used to indicate that the request URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) is too long. This status is returned by a web server when the URI provided in the HTTP request is longer than the server is willing or able to interpret. This could happen for several reasons, such as:

An overly long URL input by a user.
A client or browser automatically generating a long URL through the addition of query parameters.
A deliberate attempt to exploit security vulnerabilities by overloading the server with an excessively long request URI.

When a server returns a 414 status code, it's essentially saying that the request cannot be processed due to the URI's length. To resolve this issue, the request should be modified to shorten the URI before resubmitting. This may involve reducing the number of query parameters, shortening the path of the resource, or using a POST request if the lengthy information is being submitted as part of the request's URI.

Status

HTTP

414 URI Too Long

Common Causes

The causes for receiving a 414 status code can include:

Overly Long Query Strings: When a GET request includes a query string that's too long, servers might reject it with a 414 error. This often happens when data that should be sent in the body of a POST request is instead sent as a query string in a GET request.
Excessive API Parameters: For API calls, including too many parameters in the request URL can lead to a 414 error.
Misconfigured URL Rewriting: Web servers or applications that rewrite URLs to make them more readable or to include session information might inadvertently create overly long URLs that result in a 414 error.
Malformed Requests: Automated scripts or attackers trying to exploit vulnerabilities might generate unusually long URLs that trigger this error.
Limitations of Web Servers and Clients: Different web servers and HTTP clients have varying limits on URL length. Surpassing these limits can cause a 414 error. For instance, Internet Explorer has a URL length limit of 2048 characters.
Deeply Nested Resources: In applications with deeply nested resources or in cases where child resources inherit or accumulate identifiers from parent resources, the resulting URL could become too long.

To resolve a 414 error, consider:

Reducing the length of the query string.
Using POST requests instead of GET for sending large amounts of data.
Configuring or increasing the maximum allowed URL length on the server, if possible.
Reviewing and optimizing the application’s URL structure and rewriting rules.