Source: http://tools.ietf.org/rfcdiff?url2=draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-22.txt
Timestamp: 2016-02-06 20:42:43
Document Index: 628001924

Matched Legal Cases: ['art2', 'art2', 'art1', 'art1', 'art6', 'art6', 'art2', 'art1', 'art1', 'art6', 'art6', 'art2', 'art2', 'art2', 'art2', 'art1', 'art1', 'art5', 'art5', 'art5', 'art2', 'art6', 'art5', 'art1', 'art1', 'art2', 'art5', 'art5', 'art1', 'art1']

Diff: draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-21.txt - draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-22.txt < draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-21.txt draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-22.txt > HTTPbis Working Group R. Fielding, Ed. HTTPbis Working Group R. Fielding, Ed.
Obsoletes: 2616 (if approved) J. Reschke, Ed. Obsoletes: 2616 (if approved) J. Reschke, Ed.
Intended status: Standards Track greenbytes Intended status: Standards Track greenbytes
Expires: April 7, 2013 October 4, 2012 Expires: August 27, 2013 February 23, 2013
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Conditional Requests Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Conditional Requests
draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-21 draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-22
systems. This document defines HTTP/1.1 conditional requests, systems. This document defines HTTP/1.1 conditional requests,
including metadata header fields for indicating state changes, including metadata header fields for indicating state changes,
request header fields for making preconditions on such state, and request header fields for making preconditions on such state, and
rules for constructing the responses to a conditional request when rules for constructing the responses to a conditional request when
one or more preconditions evaluate to false. one or more preconditions evaluate to false.
skipping to change at page 1, line 33 skipping to change at page 1, line 33
The changes in this draft are summarized in Appendix D.2. The changes in this draft are summarized in Appendix D.3.
2. Validators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2. Validators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1. Weak versus Strong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.1. Weak versus Strong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2. Last-Modified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.2. Last-Modified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.1. Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.2.1. Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.2. Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2.2.2. Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3. ETag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.3. ETag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3.1. Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.3.1. Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.3.2. Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.3.2. Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.3.3. Example: Entity-tags varying on Content-Negotiated 2.3.3. Example: Entity-tags Varying on Content-Negotiated
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.4. Rules for When to Use Entity-tags and Last-Modified 2.4. When to Use Entity-tags and Last-Modified Dates . . . . . 12
Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 3. Precondition Header Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 3. Precondition Header Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.1. If-Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 3.1. If-Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.2. If-None-Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.2. If-None-Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3. If-Modified-Since . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 3.3. If-Modified-Since . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.4. If-Unmodified-Since . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.4. If-Unmodified-Since . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5. If-Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.5. If-Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4. Status Code Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 4. Status Code Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.1. 304 Not Modified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 4.1. 304 Not Modified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.2. 412 Precondition Failed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 4.2. 412 Precondition Failed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5. Precedence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 5. Evaluation and Precedence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.1. Status Code Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6.1. Status Code Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.2. Header Field Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6.2. Header Field Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 7. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
8. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 8. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
9. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 9. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
9.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 9.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
9.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 9.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix A. Changes from RFC 2616 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Appendix A. Changes from RFC 2616 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix B. Imported ABNF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Appendix B. Imported ABNF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix C. Collected ABNF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Appendix C. Collected ABNF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Appendix D. Change Log (to be removed by RFC Editor before Appendix D. Change Log (to be removed by RFC Editor before
publication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 publication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
D.1. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-19 . . . . . . . . 23 D.1. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-19 . . . . . . . . 23
D.2. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-20 . . . . . . . . 24 D.2. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-20 . . . . . . . . 24
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 D.3. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-21 . . . . . . . . 24
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Conditional requests are HTTP requests [Part2] that include one or Conditional requests are HTTP requests [Part2] that include one or
more header fields indicating a precondition to be tested before more header fields indicating a precondition to be tested before
applying the method semantics to the target resource. Each applying the method semantics to the target resource. This document
precondition is based on metadata that is expected to change if the defines the HTTP/1.1 conditional request mechanisms in terms of the
selected representation of the target resource is changed. This architecture, syntax notation, and conformance criteria defined in
document defines the HTTP/1.1 conditional request mechanisms in terms [Part1].
of the architecture, syntax notation, and conformance criteria defined in [Part1]. Conditional GET requests are the most efficient mechanism for HTTP Conditional GET requests are the most efficient mechanism for HTTP
cache updates [Part6]. Conditionals can also be applied to state- cache updates [Part6]. Conditionals can also be applied to state-
changing methods, such as PUT and DELETE, to prevent the "lost changing methods, such as PUT and DELETE, to prevent the "lost
update" problem: one client accidentally overwriting the work of update" problem: one client accidentally overwriting the work of
another client that has been acting in parallel. another client that has been acting in parallel.
Conditional request preconditions are based on the state of the Conditional request preconditions are based on the state of the
target resource as a whole (its current value set) or the state as target resource as a whole (its current value set) or the state as
observed in a previously obtained representation (one value in that observed in a previously obtained representation (one value in that
set). A resource might have multiple current representations, each set). A resource might have multiple current representations, each
with its own observable state. The conditional request mechanisms with its own observable state. The conditional request mechanisms
assume that the mapping of requests to corresponding representations assume that the mapping of requests to a "selected representation"
will be consistent over time if the server intends to take advantage (Section 3 of [Part2]) will be consistent over time if the server
of conditionals. Regardless, if the mapping is inconsistent and the intends to take advantage of conditionals. Regardless, if the
server is unable to select the appropriate representation, then no mapping is inconsistent and the server is unable to select the
harm will result when the precondition evaluates to false. appropriate representation, then no harm will result when the
precondition evaluates to false.
We use the term "selected representation" to refer to the current The conditional request preconditions defined by this specification
representation of the target resource that would have been selected are evaluated by comparing the validators provided in the conditional
in a successful response if the same request had used the method GET request header fields to the current validators for the selected
and had excluded all of the conditional request header fields. The representation in the order defined by Section 5.
conditional request preconditions are evaluated by comparing the values provided in the request header fields to the current metadata for the selected representation. 1.1. Conformance and Error Handling 1.1. Conformance and Error Handling
defined in Section 2.5 of [Part1]. defined in Section 2.5 of [Part1].
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2.1. Weak versus Strong 2.1. Weak versus Strong
Validators come in two flavors: strong or weak. Weak validators are Validators come in two flavors: strong or weak. Weak validators are
easy to generate but are far less useful for comparisons. Strong easy to generate but are far less useful for comparisons. Strong
validators are ideal for comparisons but can be very difficult (and validators are ideal for comparisons but can be very difficult (and
occasionally impossible) to generate efficiently. Rather than impose occasionally impossible) to generate efficiently. Rather than impose
that all forms of resource adhere to the same strength of validator, that all forms of resource adhere to the same strength of validator,
HTTP exposes the type of validator in use and imposes restrictions on HTTP exposes the type of validator in use and imposes restrictions on
when weak validators can be used as preconditions. when weak validators can be used as preconditions.
A "strong validator" is a representation metadata value that MUST be A "strong validator" is representation metadata that changes value
changed to a new, previously unused or guaranteed unique, value whenever a change occurs to the representation data that would be
whenever a change occurs to the representation data such that a observable in the payload body of a 200 (OK) response to GET.
change would be observable in the payload body of a 200 (OK) response to GET. A strong validator MAY be changed for other reasons, such as when a A strong validator might change for other reasons, such as when a
semantically significant part of the representation metadata is semantically significant part of the representation metadata is
changed (e.g., Content-Type), but it is in the best interests of the changed (e.g., Content-Type), but it is in the best interests of the
origin server to only change the value when it is necessary to origin server to only change the value when it is necessary to
invalidate the stored responses held by remote caches and authoring invalidate the stored responses held by remote caches and authoring
tools. A strong validator MUST be unique across all representations tools. A strong validator is unique across all representations of a
of a given resource, such that no two representations of that given resource, such that no two representations of that resource can
resource share the same validator unless their payload body would be share the same validator unless their representation data is
identical. identical.
Cache entries might persist for arbitrarily long periods, regardless Cache entries might persist for arbitrarily long periods, regardless
of expiration times. Thus, a cache might attempt to validate an of expiration times. Thus, a cache might attempt to validate an
entry using a validator that it obtained in the distant past. A entry using a validator that it obtained in the distant past. A
strong validator MUST be unique across all versions of all strong validator is unique across all versions of all representations
representations associated with a particular resource over time. associated with a particular resource over time. However, there is
However, there is no implication of uniqueness across representations no implication of uniqueness across representations of different
of different resources (i.e., the same strong validator might be in resources (i.e., the same strong validator might be in use for
use for representations of multiple resources at the same time and representations of multiple resources at the same time and does not
does not imply that those representations are equivalent). imply that those representations are equivalent).
There are a variety of strong validators used in practice. The best There are a variety of strong validators used in practice. The best
are based on strict revision control, wherein each change to a are based on strict revision control, wherein each change to a
representation always results in a unique node name and revision representation always results in a unique node name and revision
identifier being assigned before the representation is made identifier being assigned before the representation is made
accessible to GET. A collision-resistant hash function applied to accessible to GET. A collision-resistant hash function applied to
the representation data is also sufficient if the data is available the representation data is also sufficient if the data is available
prior to the response header fields being sent and the digest does prior to the response header fields being sent and the digest does
not need to be recalculated every time a validation request is not need to be recalculated every time a validation request is
received. However, if a resource has distinct representations that received. However, if a resource has distinct representations that
differ only in their metadata, such as might occur with content differ only in their metadata, such as might occur with content
negotiation over media types that happen to share the same data negotiation over media types that happen to share the same data
format, then the origin server SHOULD incorporate additional format, then the origin server SHOULD incorporate additional
information in the validator to distinguish those representations and information in the validator to distinguish those representations and
avoid confusing cache behavior. avoid confusing cache behavior.
In contrast, a "weak validator" is a representation metadata value In contrast, a "weak validator" is representation metadata that might
that might not be changed for every change to the representation not change for every change to the representation data. This
data. This weakness might be due to limitations in how the value is weakness might be due to limitations in how the value is calculated,
calculated, such as clock resolution or an inability to ensure such as clock resolution or an inability to ensure uniqueness for all
uniqueness for all possible representations of the resource, or due possible representations of the resource, or due to a desire by the
to a desire by the resource owner to group representations by some resource owner to group representations by some self-determined set
self-determined set of equivalency rather than unique sequences of of equivalency rather than unique sequences of data. An origin
data. An origin server SHOULD change a weak entity-tag whenever it server SHOULD change a weak entity-tag whenever it considers prior
considers prior representations to be unacceptable as a substitute representations to be unacceptable as a substitute for the current
for the current representation. In other words, a weak entity-tag representation. In other words, a weak entity-tag ought to change
ought to change whenever the origin server wants caches to invalidate whenever the origin server wants caches to invalidate old responses.
old responses. For example, the representation of a weather report that changes in For example, the representation of a weather report that changes in
content every second, based on dynamic measurements, might be grouped content every second, based on dynamic measurements, might be grouped
into sets of equivalent representations (from the origin server's into sets of equivalent representations (from the origin server's
perspective) with the same weak validator in order to allow cached perspective) with the same weak validator in order to allow cached
representations to be valid for a reasonable period of time (perhaps representations to be valid for a reasonable period of time (perhaps
adjusted dynamically based on server load or weather quality). adjusted dynamically based on server load or weather quality).
Likewise, a representation's modification time, if defined with only Likewise, a representation's modification time, if defined with only
one-second resolution, might be a weak validator if it is possible one-second resolution, might be a weak validator if it is possible
for the representation to be modified twice during a single second for the representation to be modified twice during a single second
and retrieved between those modifications. and retrieved between those modifications.
representations have identical representation data. For example, if
content coding, then that validator is weak. However, two
A "use" of a validator occurs when either a client generates a A "use" of a validator occurs when either a client generates a
request and includes the validator in a precondition or when a server request and includes the validator in a precondition or when a server
compares two validators. Weak validators are only usable in contexts compares two validators. Weak validators are only usable in contexts
that do not depend on exact equality of a representation's payload that do not depend on exact equality of the representation data.
body. Strong validators are usable and preferred for all conditional Strong validators are usable and preferred for all conditional
requests, including cache validation, partial content ranges, and requests, including cache validation, partial content ranges, and
"lost update" avoidance. "lost update" avoidance.
2.2. Last-Modified 2.2. Last-Modified
The "Last-Modified" header field indicates the date and time at which The "Last-Modified" header field in a response provides a timestamp
the origin server believes the selected representation was last indicating the date and time at which the origin server believes the
modified. selected representation was last modified, as determined at the
Last-Modified = HTTP-date Last-Modified = HTTP-date
An example of its use is An example of its use is
Last-Modified: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 12:45:26 GMT Last-Modified: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 12:45:26 GMT
2.2.1. Generation 2.2.1. Generation
Origin servers SHOULD send Last-Modified for any selected Origin servers SHOULD send Last-Modified for any selected
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same Last-Modified time, then at least one of those responses would same Last-Modified time, then at least one of those responses would
have a Date value equal to its Last-Modified time. The arbitrary 60- have a Date value equal to its Last-Modified time. The arbitrary 60-
second limit guards against the possibility that the Date and Last- second limit guards against the possibility that the Date and Last-
Modified values are generated from different clocks, or at somewhat Modified values are generated from different clocks, or at somewhat
different times during the preparation of the response. An different times during the preparation of the response. An
implementation MAY use a value larger than 60 seconds, if it is implementation MAY use a value larger than 60 seconds, if it is
believed that 60 seconds is too short. believed that 60 seconds is too short.
2.3. ETag 2.3. ETag
The "ETag" header field provides the current entity-tag for the The "ETag" header field in a response provides the current entity-tag
selected representation. An entity-tag is an opaque validator for for the selected representation, as determined at the conclusion of
handling the request. An entity-tag is an opaque validator for
differentiating between multiple representations of the same differentiating between multiple representations of the same
resource, regardless of whether those multiple representations are resource, regardless of whether those multiple representations are
due to resource state changes over time, content negotiation due to resource state changes over time, content negotiation
resulting in multiple representations being valid at the same time, resulting in multiple representations being valid at the same time,
or both. An entity-tag consists of an opaque quoted string, possibly or both. An entity-tag consists of an opaque quoted string, possibly
prefixed by a weakness indicator. prefixed by a weakness indicator.
ETag = entity-tag ETag = entity-tag
entity-tag = [ weak ] opaque-tag entity-tag = [ weak ] opaque-tag
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ETag: "xyzzy" ETag: "xyzzy"
ETag: W/"xyzzy" ETag: W/"xyzzy"
ETag: "" ETag: ""
An entity-tag can be either a weak or strong validator, with strong An entity-tag can be either a weak or strong validator, with strong
being the default. If an origin server provides an entity-tag for a being the default. If an origin server provides an entity-tag for a
representation and the generation of that entity-tag does not satisfy representation and the generation of that entity-tag does not satisfy
the requirements for a strong validator (Section 2.1), then that all of the characteristics of a strong validator (Section 2.1), then
entity-tag MUST be marked as weak by prefixing its opaque value with the origin server MUST mark the entity-tag as weak by prefixing its
"W/" (case-sensitive). opaque value with "W/" (case-sensitive).
2.3.1. Generation 2.3.1. Generation
The principle behind entity-tags is that only the service author The principle behind entity-tags is that only the service author
knows the implementation of a resource well enough to select the most knows the implementation of a resource well enough to select the most
accurate and efficient validation mechanism for that resource, and accurate and efficient validation mechanism for that resource, and
that any such mechanism can be mapped to a simple sequence of octets that any such mechanism can be mapped to a simple sequence of octets
for easy comparison. Since the value is opaque, there is no need for for easy comparison. Since the value is opaque, there is no need for
the client to be aware of how each entity-tag is constructed. the client to be aware of how each entity-tag is constructed.
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determined, since the entity-tag's use in conditional requests and determined, since the entity-tag's use in conditional requests and
evaluating cache freshness ([Part6]) can result in a substantial evaluating cache freshness ([Part6]) can result in a substantial
reduction of HTTP network traffic and can be a significant factor in reduction of HTTP network traffic and can be a significant factor in
improving service scalability and reliability. improving service scalability and reliability.
2.3.2. Comparison 2.3.2. Comparison
There are two entity-tag comparison functions, depending on whether There are two entity-tag comparison functions, depending on whether
the comparison context allows the use of weak validators or not: the comparison context allows the use of weak validators or not:
o The strong comparison function: in order to be considered equal, o Strong comparison: two entity-tags are equivalent if both are not
both opaque-tags MUST be identical character-by-character, and weak and their opaque-tags match character-by-character.
both MUST NOT be weak. o The weak comparison function: in order to be considered equal, o Weak comparison: two entity-tags are equivalent if their opaque-
both opaque-tags MUST be identical character-by-character, but tags match character-by-character, regardless of either or both
either or both of them MAY be tagged as "weak" without affecting being tagged as "weak".
the result. The example below shows the results for a set of entity-tag pairs, The example below shows the results for a set of entity-tag pairs,
and both the weak and strong comparison function results: and both the weak and strong comparison function results:
+--------+--------+-------------------+-----------------+ +--------+--------+-------------------+-----------------+
| ETag 1 | ETag 2 | Strong Comparison | Weak Comparison | | ETag 1 | ETag 2 | Strong Comparison | Weak Comparison |
| W/"1" | W/"1" | no match | match | | W/"1" | W/"1" | no match | match |
| W/"1" | W/"2" | no match | no match | | W/"1" | W/"2" | no match | no match |
| W/"1" | "1" | no match | match | | W/"1" | "1" | no match | match |
| "1" | "1" | match | match | | "1" | "1" | match | match |
2.3.3. Example: Entity-tags varying on Content-Negotiated Resources 2.3.3. Example: Entity-tags Varying on Content-Negotiated Resources
Consider a resource that is subject to content negotiation (Section Consider a resource that is subject to content negotiation (Section
3.4 of [Part2]), and where the representations returned upon a GET 3.4 of [Part2]), and where the representations sent in response to a
request vary based on the Accept-Encoding request header field GET request vary based on the Accept-Encoding request header field
(Section 6.3.4 of [Part2]): (Section 5.3.4 of [Part2]):
GET /index HTTP/1.1 GET /index HTTP/1.1
In this case, the response might or might not use the gzip content In this case, the response might or might not use the gzip content
coding. If it does not, the response might look like: coding. If it does not, the response might look like:
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...binary data... ...binary data...
Note: Content codings are a property of the representation, so Note: Content codings are a property of the representation, so
therefore an entity-tag of an encoded representation has to be therefore an entity-tag of an encoded representation has to be
distinct from an unencoded representation to prevent conflicts distinct from an unencoded representation to prevent conflicts
during cache updates and range requests. In contrast, transfer during cache updates and range requests. In contrast, transfer
codings (Section 4 of [Part1]) apply only during message transfer codings (Section 4 of [Part1]) apply only during message transfer
and do not require distinct entity-tags. and do not require distinct entity-tags.
2.4. Rules for When to Use Entity-tags and Last-Modified Dates 2.4. When to Use Entity-tags and Last-Modified Dates
We adopt a set of rules and recommendations for origin servers, We adopt a set of rules and recommendations for origin servers,
clients, and caches regarding when various validator types ought to clients, and caches regarding when various validator types ought to
be used, and for what purposes. be used, and for what purposes.
HTTP/1.1 origin servers: In 200 (OK) responses to GET or HEAD, an origin server:
o SHOULD send an entity-tag validator unless it is not feasible to o SHOULD send an entity-tag validator unless it is not feasible to
generate one. generate one.
o MAY send a weak entity-tag instead of a strong entity-tag, if o MAY send a weak entity-tag instead of a strong entity-tag, if
performance considerations support the use of weak entity-tags, or performance considerations support the use of weak entity-tags, or
if it is unfeasible to send a strong entity-tag. if it is unfeasible to send a strong entity-tag.
o SHOULD send a Last-Modified value if it is feasible to send one. o SHOULD send a Last-Modified value if it is feasible to send one.
In other words, the preferred behavior for an HTTP/1.1 origin server In other words, the preferred behavior for an origin server is to
is to send both a strong entity-tag and a Last-Modified value. send both a strong entity-tag and a Last-Modified value in successful
responses to a retrieval request.
HTTP/1.1 clients: A client:
o MUST use that entity-tag in any cache-conditional request (using o MUST use that entity-tag in any cache-conditional request (using
If-Match or If-None-Match) if an entity-tag has been provided by If-Match or If-None-Match) if an entity-tag has been provided by
the origin server. the origin server.
o SHOULD use the Last-Modified value in non-subrange cache- o SHOULD use the Last-Modified value in non-subrange cache-
conditional requests (using If-Modified-Since) if only a Last- conditional requests (using If-Modified-Since) if only a Last-
Modified value has been provided by the origin server. Modified value has been provided by the origin server.
o MAY use the Last-Modified value in subrange cache-conditional o MAY use the Last-Modified value in subrange cache-conditional
requests (using If-Unmodified-Since) if only a Last-Modified value requests (using If-Unmodified-Since) if only a Last-Modified value
has been provided by an HTTP/1.0 origin server. The user agent has been provided by an HTTP/1.0 origin server. The user agent
SHOULD provide a way to disable this, in case of difficulty. SHOULD provide a way to disable this, in case of difficulty.
o SHOULD use both validators in cache-conditional requests if both o SHOULD use both validators in cache-conditional requests if both
an entity-tag and a Last-Modified value have been provided by the an entity-tag and a Last-Modified value have been provided by the
origin server. This allows both HTTP/1.0 and HTTP/1.1 caches to origin server. This allows both HTTP/1.0 and HTTP/1.1 caches to
respond appropriately. respond appropriately.
An HTTP/1.1 origin server, upon receiving a conditional request that includes both a Last-Modified date (e.g., in an If-Modified-Since or If-Unmodified-Since header field) and one or more entity-tags (e.g., in an If-Match, If-None-Match, or If-Range header field) as cache validators, MUST NOT return a response status code of 304 (Not Modified) unless doing so is consistent with all of the conditional header fields in the request. An HTTP/1.1 caching proxy, upon receiving a conditional request that includes both a Last-Modified date and one or more entity-tags as cache validators, MUST NOT return a locally cached response to the client unless that cached response is consistent with all of the conditional header fields in the request. Note: The general principle behind these rules is that HTTP/1.1 servers and clients ought to transmit as much non-redundant information as is available in their responses and requests. HTTP/1.1 systems receiving this information will make the most conservative assumptions about the validators they receive. HTTP/1.0 clients and caches might ignore entity-tags. Generally, last-modified values received or used by these systems will support transparent and efficient caching, and so HTTP/1.1 origin servers still ought to provide Last-Modified values. 3. Precondition Header Fields 3. Precondition Header Fields
fields for applying preconditions on requests. Section 5 defines the fields for applying preconditions on requests. Section 5 defines
order of evaluation when more than one precondition is present in a when the preconditions are applied and the order of evaluation when
request. more than one precondition is present.
3.1. If-Match 3.1. If-Match
The "If-Match" header field can be used to make a request method The "If-Match" header field can be used to make a request method
conditional on the current existence or value of an entity-tag for conditional on the current existence or value of an entity-tag for
one or more representations of the target resource. one or more representations of the target resource.
If-Match is generally useful for resource update requests, such as If-Match is generally useful for resource update requests, such as
PUT requests, as a means for protecting against accidental overwrites PUT requests, as a means for protecting against accidental overwrites
when multiple clients are acting in parallel on the same resource when multiple clients are acting in parallel on the same resource
(i.e., the "lost update" problem). An If-Match field-value of "*" (i.e., the "lost update" problem). An If-Match field-value of "*"
places the precondition on the existence of any current places the precondition on the existence of any current
representation for the target resource. representation for the target resource.
If-Match = "*" / 1#entity-tag If-Match = "*" / 1#entity-tag
The If-Match condition is met if and only if any of the entity-tags The If-Match condition is met if and only if any of the entity-tags
listed in the If-Match field value match the entity-tag of the listed in the If-Match field value match the entity-tag of the
selected representation for the target resource (as per selected representation using the weak comparison function (as per
Section 2.3.2), or if "*" is given and any current representation Section 2.3.2), or if "*" is given and any current representation
exists for the target resource. exists for the target resource.
If the condition is met, the server MAY perform the request method as If the condition is met, the server MAY perform the request method.
if the If-Match header field was not present. Origin servers MUST NOT perform the requested method if the condition Origin servers MUST NOT perform the requested method if the condition
is not met; instead they MUST respond with the 412 (Precondition is not met; instead they MUST respond with the 412 (Precondition
Failed) status code. Failed) status code.
Proxy servers using a cached response as the selected representation Proxy servers using a cached response as the selected representation
MUST NOT perform the requested method if the condition is not met; MUST NOT perform the requested method if the condition is not met;
instead, they MUST forward the request towards the origin server. instead, they MUST forward the request towards the origin server.
If the request would, without the If-Match header field, result in anything other than a 2xx (Successful) or 412 (Precondition Failed) status code, then the If-Match header field MUST be ignored. Examples: Examples:
If-Match: "xyzzy" If-Match: "xyzzy"
If-Match: "xyzzy", "r2d2xxxx", "c3piozzzz" If-Match: "xyzzy", "r2d2xxxx", "c3piozzzz"
If-Match: * If-Match: *
3.2. If-None-Match 3.2. If-None-Match
The "If-None-Match" header field can be used to make a request method The "If-None-Match" header field can be used to make a request method
conditional on not matching any of the current entity-tag values for conditional on not matching any of the current entity-tag values for
skipping to change at page 15, line 18 skipping to change at page 14, line 31
existing representation of the target resource when the client existing representation of the target resource when the client
believes that the resource does not have a current representation. believes that the resource does not have a current representation.
This is a variation on the "lost update" problem that might arise if This is a variation on the "lost update" problem that might arise if
more than one client attempts to create an initial representation for more than one client attempts to create an initial representation for
the target resource. the target resource.
If-None-Match = "*" / 1#entity-tag If-None-Match = "*" / 1#entity-tag
The If-None-Match condition is met if and only if none of the entity- The If-None-Match condition is met if and only if none of the entity-
tags listed in the If-None-Match field value match the entity-tag of tags listed in the If-None-Match field value match the entity-tag of
the selected representation for the target resource (as per the selected representation using the weak comparison function (as
Section 2.3.2), or if "*" is given and no current representation per Section 2.3.2), or if "*" is given and no current representation
exists for that resource. exists for that resource.
If the condition is not met, the server MUST NOT perform the If the condition is not met, the server MUST NOT perform the
requested method. Instead, if the request method was GET or HEAD, requested method. Instead, if the request method was GET or HEAD,
the server SHOULD respond with a 304 (Not Modified) status code, the server SHOULD respond with a 304 (Not Modified) status code,
including the cache-related header fields (particularly ETag) of the including the cache-related header fields (particularly ETag) of the
selected representation that has a matching entity-tag. For all selected representation that has a matching entity-tag. For all
other request methods, the server MUST respond with a 412 other request methods, the server MUST respond with a 412
(Precondition Failed) status code. (Precondition Failed) status code when the condition is not met.
If the condition is met, the server MAY perform the requested method If the condition is met, the server MAY perform the requested method
as if the If-None-Match header field did not exist, but MUST also and MUST ignore any If-Modified-Since header field(s) in the request.
ignore any If-Modified-Since header field(s) in the request. That That is, if no entity-tags match, then the server MUST NOT send a 304
is, if no entity-tags match, then the server MUST NOT return a 304 (Not Modified) response. (Not Modified) response.
If the request would, without the If-None-Match header field, result in anything other than a 2xx (Successful) or 304 (Not Modified) status code, then the If-None-Match header field MUST be ignored. (See Section 2.4 for a discussion of server behavior when both If- Modified-Since and If-None-Match appear in the same request.) Examples: Examples:
If-None-Match: "xyzzy" If-None-Match: "xyzzy"
If-None-Match: W/"xyzzy" If-None-Match: W/"xyzzy"
If-None-Match: "xyzzy", "r2d2xxxx", "c3piozzzz" If-None-Match: "xyzzy", "r2d2xxxx", "c3piozzzz"
If-None-Match: W/"xyzzy", W/"r2d2xxxx", W/"c3piozzzz" If-None-Match: W/"xyzzy", W/"r2d2xxxx", W/"c3piozzzz"
If-None-Match: * If-None-Match: *
3.3. If-Modified-Since 3.3. If-Modified-Since
skipping to change at page 16, line 28 skipping to change at page 15, line 34
A GET method with an If-Modified-Since header field and no Range A GET method with an If-Modified-Since header field and no Range
header field requests that the selected representation be transferred header field requests that the selected representation be transferred
only if it has been modified since the date given by the If-Modified- only if it has been modified since the date given by the If-Modified-
Since header field. The algorithm for determining this includes the Since header field. The algorithm for determining this includes the
following cases: following cases:
1. If the request would normally result in anything other than a 200 1. If the request would normally result in anything other than a 200
(OK) status code, or if the passed If-Modified-Since date is (OK) status code, or if the passed If-Modified-Since date is
invalid, the response is exactly the same as for a normal GET. A invalid, the response is exactly the same as for a normal GET. A
date which is later than the server's current time is invalid. date that is later than the server's current time is invalid.
2. If the selected representation has been modified since the If- 2. If the selected representation has been modified since the If-
Modified-Since date, the response is exactly the same as for a Modified-Since date, the response is exactly the same as for a
normal GET. normal GET.
3. If the selected representation has not been modified since a 3. If the selected representation has not been modified since a
valid If-Modified-Since date, the server SHOULD return a 304 (Not valid If-Modified-Since date, the server SHOULD send a 304 (Not
Modified) response. Modified) response.
The purpose of this feature is to allow efficient updates of cached The two purposes of this feature are to allow efficient updates of
information with a minimum amount of transaction overhead. cached information, with a minimum amount of transaction overhead,
and to limit the scope of a web traversal to resources that have
Note: The Range header field modifies the meaning of If-Modified- recently changed.
Since; see Section 5.4 of [Part5] for full details. Note: If-Modified-Since times are interpreted by the server, whose When used for cache updates, a cache will typically use the value of
clock might not be synchronized with the client. the cached message's Last-Modified field to generate the field value
of If-Modified-Since. This behavior is most interoperable for cases
where clocks are poorly synchronized or when the server has chosen to
only honor exact timestamp matches (due to a problem with Last-
Modified dates that appear to go "back in time" when the origin
server's clock is corrected or a representation is restored from an
archived backup). However, caches occasionally generate the field
value based on other data, such as the Date header field of the
cached message or the local clock time that the message was received,
particularly when the cached message does not contain a Last-Modified
Note: When handling an If-Modified-Since header field, some When used for limiting the scope of retrieval to a recent time
servers will use an exact date comparison function, rather than a window, a user agent will generate an If-Modified-Since field value
less-than function, for deciding whether to send a 304 (Not based on either its own local clock or a Date header field received
Modified) response. To get best results when sending an If- from the server during a past run. Origin servers that choose an
Modified-Since header field for cache validation, clients are exact timestamp match based on the selected representation's Last-
advised to use the exact date string received in a previous Last- Modified field will not be able to help the user agent limit its data
Modified header field whenever possible. transfers to only those changed during the specified window.
Note: If a client uses an arbitrary date in the If-Modified-Since Note: If a client uses an arbitrary date in the If-Modified-Since
header field instead of a date taken from the Last-Modified header header field instead of a date taken from a Last-Modified or Date
field for the same request, the client needs to be aware that this header field from the origin server, the client ought to be aware
date is interpreted in the server's understanding of time. that its date will be interpreted according to the server's
Unsynchronized clocks and rounding problems, due to the different understanding of time.
encodings of time between the client and server, are concerns. This includes the possibility of race conditions if the document has changed between the time it was first requested and the If- Modified-Since date of a subsequent request, and the possibility of clock-skew-related problems if the If-Modified-Since date is derived from the client's clock without correction to the server's clock. Corrections for different time bases between client and server are at best approximate due to network latency. 3.4. If-Unmodified-Since 3.4. If-Unmodified-Since
The "If-Unmodified-Since" header field can be used to make a request The "If-Unmodified-Since" header field can be used to make a request
method conditional by modification date: if the selected method conditional by modification date: if the selected
representation has been modified since the time specified in this representation has been modified since the time specified in this
field, then the server MUST NOT perform the requested operation and field, then the server MUST NOT perform the requested operation and
MUST instead respond with the 412 (Precondition Failed) status code. MUST instead respond with the 412 (Precondition Failed) status code.
If the selected representation has not been modified since the time If the selected representation has not been modified since the time
specified in this field, the server SHOULD perform the request method specified in this field, the server MAY perform the request.
as if the If-Unmodified-Since header field were not present. If-Unmodified-Since = HTTP-date If-Unmodified-Since = HTTP-date
An example of the field is: An example of the field is:
If-Unmodified-Since: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 19:43:31 GMT If-Unmodified-Since: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 19:43:31 GMT
If a request normally (i.e., in absence of the If-Unmodified-Since A server MUST ignore the If-Unmodified-Since header field if the
header field) would result in anything other than a 2xx (Successful) received value is not a valid HTTP-date.
or 412 (Precondition Failed) status code, the If-Unmodified-Since header field SHOULD be ignored. If the specified date is invalid, the header field MUST be ignored. 3.5. If-Range 3.5. If-Range
The "If-Range" header field provides a special conditional request The "If-Range" header field provides a special conditional request
mechanism that is similar to If-Match and If-Unmodified-Since but mechanism that is similar to If-Match and If-Unmodified-Since but
specific to HTTP range requests. If-Range is defined in Section 5.3 specific to range requests. If-Range is defined in Section 3.2 of
of [Part5]. [Part5].
4. Status Code Definitions 4. Status Code Definitions
4.1. 304 Not Modified 4.1. 304 Not Modified
The 304 status code indicates that a conditional GET request has been The 304 (Not Modified) status code indicates that a conditional GET
received and would have resulted in a 200 (OK) response if it were request has been received and would have resulted in a 200 (OK)
not for the fact that the condition has evaluated to false. In other response if it were not for the fact that the condition has evaluated
words, there is no need for the server to transfer a representation to false. In other words, there is no need for the server to
of the target resource because the client's request indicates that it transfer a representation of the target resource because the request
already has a valid representation, as indicated by the 304 response indicates that the client, which made the request conditional,
header fields, and is therefore redirecting the client to make use of already has a valid representation; the server is therefore
that stored representation as if it were the payload of a 200 redirecting the client to make use of that stored representation as
response. The 304 response MUST NOT contain a message-body, and thus if it were the payload of a 200 (OK) response.
is always terminated by the first empty line after the header fields. A 304 response MUST include a Date header field (Section 8.1.1.2 of The server generating a 304 response MUST generate any of the
[Part2]) unless the origin server does not have a clock that can following header fields that would have been sent in a 200 (OK)
provide a reasonable approximation of the current time. If a 200 response to the same request: Cache-Control, Content-Location, ETag,
(OK) response to the same request would have included any of the Expires, and Vary.
header fields Cache-Control, Content-Location, ETag, Expires, or Vary, then those same header fields MUST be sent in a 304 response. Since the goal of a 304 response is to minimize information transfer Since the goal of a 304 response is to minimize information transfer
when the recipient already has one or more cached representations, when the recipient already has one or more cached representations, a
the response SHOULD NOT include representation metadata other than sender SHOULD NOT generate representation metadata other than the
the above listed fields unless said metadata exists for the purpose above listed fields unless said metadata exists for the purpose of
of guiding cache updates (e.g., future HTTP extensions). guiding cache updates (e.g., Last-Modified might be useful if the
If the recipient of a 304 response does not have a cached Requirements on a cache that receives a 304 response are defined in
representation corresponding to the entity-tag indicated by the 304 Section 4.2.1 of [Part6]. If the conditional request originated with
response, then the recipient MUST NOT use the 304 to update its own an outbound client, such as a user agent with its own cache sending a
cache. If this conditional request originated with an outbound conditional GET to a shared proxy, then the proxy SHOULD forward the
client, such as a user agent with its own cache sending a conditional 304 response to that client.
GET to a shared proxy, then the 304 response MAY be forwarded to that client. Otherwise, the recipient MUST disregard the 304 response and repeat the request without any preconditions. If a cache uses a received 304 response to update a cache entry, the A 304 response cannot contain a message-body; it is always terminated
cache MUST update the entry to reflect any new field values given in by the first empty line after the header fields.
the response. 4.2. 412 Precondition Failed 4.2. 412 Precondition Failed
The 412 status code indicates that one or more preconditions given in The 412 (Precondition Failed) status code indicates that one or more
the request header fields evaluated to false when tested on the preconditions given in the request header fields evaluated to false
server. This response code allows the client to place preconditions when tested on the server. This response code allows the client to
on the current resource state (its current representations and place preconditions on the current resource state (its current
metadata) and thus prevent the request method from being applied if representations and metadata) and thus prevent the request method
the target resource is in an unexpected state. from being applied if the target resource is in an unexpected state.
5. Precedence 5. Evaluation and Precedence
For each conditional request, a server MUST evaluate the request
preconditions after it has successfully performed its normal request
checks (i.e., just before it would perform the action associated with
the request method). Preconditions are ignored if the server
determines that an error or redirect response applies before they are
evaluated. Otherwise, the evaluation depends on both the method
semantics and the choice of conditional.
A conditional request header field that is designed specifically for
cache validation, which includes If-None-Match and If-Modified-Since
when used in a GET or HEAD request, allows cached representations to
be refreshed without repeatedly transferring data already held by the
client. Evaluating to false is thus an indication that the client
can continue to use its local copy of the selected representation, as
indicated by the server generating a 304 (Not Modified) response that
includes only those header fields useful for refreshing the cached
All other conditionals are intended to signal failure when the
precondition evaluates to false. For example, an If-Match
conditional sent with a state-changing method (e.g., POST, PUT,
DELETE) is intended to prevent the request from taking effect on the
target resource if the resource state does not match the expected
state. In other words, evaluating the condition to false means that
the resource has been changed by some other client, perhaps by
another user attempting to edit the same resource, and thus
preventing the request from being applied saves the client from
overwriting some other client's work. This result is indicated by
the server generating a 412 (Precondition Failed) response.
The conditional request header fields defined by this specification
are ignored for request methods that never involve the selection or
modification of a selected representation (e.g., CONNECT, OPTIONS,
and TRACE). Other conditional request header fields, defined by
extensions to HTTP, might place conditions on the state of the target
resource in general, or on a group of resources. For instance, the
If header field in WebDAV can make a request conditional on various
aspects (such as locks) of multiple resources ([RFC4918], Section
When more than one conditional request header field is present in a When more than one conditional request header field is present in a
request, the order in which the fields are evaluated becomes request, the order in which the fields are evaluated becomes
important. In practice, the fields defined in this document are important. In practice, the fields defined in this document are
consistently implemented in a single, logical order, due to the fact consistently implemented in a single, logical order, due to the fact
that entity tags are presumed to be more accurate than date that entity tags are presumed to be more accurate than date
validators. For example, the only reason to send both If-Modified- validators. For example, the only reason to send both If-Modified-
Since and If-None-Match in the same GET request is to support Since and If-None-Match in the same GET request is to support
intermediary caches that might not have implemented If-None-Match, so intermediary caches that might not have implemented If-None-Match, so
it makes sense to ignore the If-Modified-Since when entity tags are it makes sense to ignore the If-Modified-Since when entity tags are
skipping to change at page 19, line 41 skipping to change at page 19, line 27
* if false, respond 412 (Precondition Failed) * if false, respond 412 (Precondition Failed)
2. When If-Match is not present and If-Unmodified-Since is present, 2. When If-Match is not present and If-Unmodified-Since is present,
evaluate it: evaluate it:
* if true, continue to step 3 * if true, continue to step 3
3. When the method is GET and both Range and If-Range are present, 3. When If-None-Match is present, evaluate it:
evaluate it: * if the validator matches, respond 206 (Partial Content) * if the validator does not match, respond 200 (OK) 4. When If-None-Match is present, evaluate it: * if true, continue to step 5
* if true, all conditions are met * if false for GET/HEAD, respond 304 (Not Modified) * if false for GET/HEAD, respond 304 (Not Modified)
* if false for other methods, respond 412 (Precondition Failed) * if false for other methods, respond 412 (Precondition Failed)
5. When the method is GET or HEAD, If-None-Match is not present, and 4. When the method is GET or HEAD, If-None-Match is not present, and
If-Modified-Since is present, evaluate it: If-Modified-Since is present, evaluate it:
* if true, all conditions are met * if true, continue to step 5
* if false, respond 304 (Not Modified) * if false, respond 304 (Not Modified)
5. When the method is GET and both Range and If-Range are present,
evaluate If-Range:
* if the validator matches and the Range specification is
applicable to the selected representation, respond 206
(Partial Content) [Part5]
* all conditions are met, so perform the requested action and
respond according to its success or failure.
Any extension to HTTP/1.1 that defines additional conditional request Any extension to HTTP/1.1 that defines additional conditional request
header fields ought to define its own expectations regarding the header fields ought to define its own expectations regarding the
order for evaluating such fields in relation to those defined in this order for evaluating such fields in relation to those defined in this
document and other conditionals that might be found in practice. document and other conditionals that might be found in practice.
6.1. Status Code Registration 6.1. Status Code Registration
skipping to change at page 20, line 39 skipping to change at page 20, line 29
+-------+---------------------+-------------+ +-------+---------------------+-------------+
| 304 | Not Modified | Section 4.1 | | 304 | Not Modified | Section 4.1 |
| 412 | Precondition Failed | Section 4.2 | | 412 | Precondition Failed | Section 4.2 |
6.2. Header Field Registration 6.2. Header Field Registration
+---------------------+----------+----------+-------------+ +---------------------+----------+----------+-------------+
| ETag | http | standard | Section 2.3 | | ETag | http | standard | Section 2.3 |
| If-Match | http | standard | Section 3.1 | | If-Match | http | standard | Section 3.1 |
| If-Modified-Since | http | standard | Section 3.3 | | If-Modified-Since | http | standard | Section 3.3 |
| If-None-Match | http | standard | Section 3.2 | | If-None-Match | http | standard | Section 3.2 |
| If-Unmodified-Since | http | standard | Section 3.4 | | If-Unmodified-Since | http | standard | Section 3.4 |
| Last-Modified | http | standard | Section 2.2 | | Last-Modified | http | standard | Section 2.2 |
skipping to change at page 21, line 4 skipping to change at page 20, line 41
No additional security considerations have been identified beyond This section is meant to inform developers, information providers,
those applicable to HTTP in general [Part1]. and users of known security concerns specific to the HTTP/1.1
conditional request mechanisms. More general security considerations
are addressed in HTTP messaging [Part1] and semantics [Part2].
The validators defined by this specification are not intended to The validators defined by this specification are not intended to
ensure the validity of a representation, guard against malicious ensure the validity of a representation, guard against malicious
changes, or detect man-in-the-middle attacks. At best, they enable changes, or detect man-in-the-middle attacks. At best, they enable
more efficient cache updates and optimistic concurrent writes when more efficient cache updates and optimistic concurrent writes when
all participants are behaving nicely. At worst, the conditions will all participants are behaving nicely. At worst, the conditions will
fail and the client will receive a response that is no more harmful fail and the client will receive a response that is no more harmful
than an HTTP exchange without conditional requests. than an HTTP exchange without conditional requests.
An entity-tag can be abused in ways that create privacy risks. For
example, a site might deliberately construct a semantically invalid
entity-tag that is unique to the user or user agent, send it in a
cacheable response with a long freshness time, and then read that
entity-tag in later conditional requests as a means of re-identifying
that user or user agent. Such an identifying tag would become a
persistent identifier for as long as the user agent retained the
original cache entry. User agents that cache representations ought
to ensure that the cache is cleared or replaced whenever the user
performs privacy-maintaining actions, such as clearing stored cookies
or changing to a private browsing mode.
[Part5] Fielding, R., Ed., Lafon, Y., Ed., and J. Reschke, Ed., [Part5] Fielding, R., Ed., Lafon, Y., Ed., and J. Reschke, Ed.,
"Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Range Requests", "Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Range Requests",
draft-ietf-httpbis-p5-range-21 (work in progress), draft-ietf-httpbis-p5-range-22 (work in progress),
[RFC3864] Klyne, G., Nottingham, M., and J. Mogul, "Registration Procedures for Message Header Fields", BCP 90, RFC 3864, September 2004. [RFC4918] Dusseault, L., Ed., "HTTP Extensions for Web Distributed [RFC4918] Dusseault, L., Ed., "HTTP Extensions for Web Distributed
Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV)", RFC 4918, June 2007. Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV)", RFC 4918, June 2007.
Appendix A. Changes from RFC 2616 Appendix A. Changes from RFC 2616
Allow weak entity-tags in all requests except range requests The definition of validator weakness has been expanded and clarified.
(Sections 2.1 and 3.2). (Section 2.1)
Change "ETag" header field ABNF not to use quoted-string, thus Weak entity-tags are now allowed in all requests except range
avoiding escaping issues. (Section 2.3) requests (Sections 2.1 and 3.2).
defined. (Section 5)
Appendix B. Imported ABNF Appendix B. Imported ABNF
obs-text = <obs-text, defined in [Part1], Section 3.2.4> obs-text = <obs-text, defined in [Part1], Section 3.2.6>
Appendix C. Collected ABNF Appendix C. Collected ABNF
If-Match = "*" / ( *( "," OWS ) entity-tag *( OWS "," [ OWS If-Match = "*" / ( *( "," OWS ) entity-tag *( OWS "," [ OWS
entity-tag ] ) ) entity-tag ] ) )
If-Modified-Since = HTTP-date If-Modified-Since = HTTP-date
If-None-Match = "*" / ( *( "," OWS ) entity-tag *( OWS "," [ OWS If-None-Match = "*" / ( *( "," OWS ) entity-tag *( OWS "," [ OWS
If-Unmodified-Since = HTTP-date If-Unmodified-Since = HTTP-date
etagc = "!" / %x23-7E ; '#'-'~' etagc = "!" / %x23-7E ; '#'-'~'
/ obs-text / obs-text
opaque-tag = DQUOTE *etagc DQUOTE opaque-tag = DQUOTE *etagc DQUOTE
weak = %x57.2F ; W/ weak = %x57.2F ; W/
Appendix D. Change Log (to be removed by RFC Editor before publication) Appendix D. Change Log (to be removed by RFC Editor before publication)
draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-19#appendix-C>. draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-19#appendix-C>.
skipping to change at page 24, line 24 skipping to change at page 24, line 30
Since lacks definition for method != GET" Since lacks definition for method != GET"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/372>: "refactor o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/372>: "refactor
conditional header field descriptions" conditional header field descriptions"
D.2. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-20 D.2. Since draft-ietf-httpbis-p4-conditional-20
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/96>: "Conditional
GET text"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/350>: "Optionality
of Conditional Request Support"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/384>: "unclear prose
in definition of 304"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/401>: "ETags and
Conneg"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/402>: "Comparison
function for If-Match and If-None-Match"
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/406>: "304 without
o <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/httpbis/trac/ticket/427>: "If-Match and
304 Not Modified (status code) 18 304 Not Modified (status code) 17
412 Precondition Failed (status code) 18 412 Precondition Failed (status code) 17
ETag header field 9 ETag header field 9
entity-tag 9 entity-tag 9
ETag 9 ETag 9
etagc 9 etagc 9
If-Match 14 If-Match 13
If-Modified-Since 16 If-Modified-Since 15
If-None-Match 15 If-None-Match 14
If-Unmodified-Since 17 If-Unmodified-Since 16
Last-Modified 7 Last-Modified 7
opaque-tag 9 opaque-tag 9
weak 9 weak 9
If-Match header field 13 If-Match header field 13
If-Modified-Since header field 16 If-Modified-Since header field 15
If-None-Match header field 14 If-None-Match header field 14
If-Unmodified-Since header field 17 If-Unmodified-Since header field 16
Last-Modified header field 7 Last-Modified header field 7
metadata 5 metadata 5
selected representation 4 selected representation 4
End of changes. 86 change blocks. 255 lines changed or deleted 308 lines changed or added