Content ranges in HTTP/1.1

For the HTTP/1.1 support of content ranges, what should be the correct server response for a byte range that is outside the actual contents of the file?

For example, suppose I have a file 1000 bytes in length, and the request sent to my server includes a range request of:

Range: bytes=2000-2500

What is the correct response?  Is a 204 the correct response?  Is a 206 with a Content-Length of 0 Correct?  If so, then what is the "Content-Range:" that one should return?

The HTTP/1.1 spec seems to imply that the right thing would be to return 200 along with the entire content (as a general error handling mechanism), however in this case, doing so seems to be the worst response and defeat the purpose of using content ranges.

Thanks,

-Matt Bookman
<matt@pointcast.com>

Received on Monday, 3 February 1997 17:05:47 UTC