- From: Henrik Nordstrom <hno@squid-cache.org>
- Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 10:43:52 +0100
- To: HTTP Working Group <ietf-http-wg@w3.org>
- Message-Id: <1168508632.25607.104.camel@henriknordstrom.net>
6.1.1 Status Code and Reason Phrase is apparently a bit too vague about how applications should parse and process the information, making some implementations parse the reason phrase (probably exact matches on the complete status line, not just status code) to determine the outcome. There should be a SHOULD requirement or equivalent that applications use the status code to determine the status of the response and only process the Reason Phrase as a comment intended for humans. It's true that later in the same section there is a reverse MAY requirement implying this by saying that the phrases in the rfc is just an example and may be replaced without affecting the protocol, but apparently it's not sufficient for implementers to understand that applications should not decide the outcome based on the reason phrase. I propose rewording the last sentence of the first paragraph "The client is not required to examine or display the Reason-Phrase." into something like The client MAY present the Reason Phrase to the user and SHOULD NOT examine the Reason Phrase for other purposes. or perhaps The client SHOULD NOT examine the Reason Phrase for other purposes than displaying it to the user. Regards Henrik
Received on Thursday, 11 January 2007 10:14:25 UTC