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HTTP Status Code
206 Partial Content
SuccessThe server returned only part of the requested resource, usually because the client asked for a specific byte range.
HTTP status code reference, response example, common causes, fixes, and related status codes.
What does HTTP 206 Partial Content mean?
HTTP 206 Partial Content is a status code sent by a server to indicate the result of an HTTP request.
Status codes help browsers, APIs, apps, and backend systems understand whether a request succeeded, failed, was redirected, or needs additional action.
In practice, HTTP 206 Partial Content usually appears when a server responds under specific request, validation, permission, or infrastructure conditions.
Response example
HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content Content-Range: bytes 0-1023/4096
HTTP example
HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content
Relevant headers
Content-Range
Content-Range: bytes 0-1023/4096
Range
Range: bytes=0-1023
Common causes
- Range request for a large file
- Video or audio streaming
- Partial download or resume support
How to fix it
- Ensure Range headers are valid
- Verify Content-Range matches the requested chunk
Common mistakes
- Assuming the status code alone explains the full backend issue
- Ignoring related response headers that add important context
- Treating temporary errors as permanent failures
- Retrying too aggressively without checking the cause
- Debugging the frontend only when the problem is server-side
How browsers and APIs use it
Browsers, APIs, and backend services use HTTP status codes to understand the outcome of a request. Depending on the status code, an application may render content, retry a request, redirect the user, show an error, or trigger a different flow in the client or server.
Developer note
HTTP 206 is common for media streaming and resumable downloads. If it breaks, check range handling on the server or CDN.