205 Reset Content means the server fulfilled the request and wants the user agent to reset the "document view" that sent it to its original state, typically to clear a form so the user can enter the next record. Like 204, a 205 must not contain content.
Browsers do not really implement the reset behaviour, so in practice a 205 acts like 204 No Content. Applications that want to clear a form after it was submitted do so with JavaScript.
Example response
HTTP
HTTP/1.1 205 Reset Content
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:15:32 GMT
Content-Length: 0SEO and redirect checking
205 is not used for pages and has no SEO meaning. If a page URL returns 205, crawlers find no content to index.
Common causes and use cases
- A data-entry API tells the client to clear the input form after a successful submission.
- A framework or custom code returns 205 where 204 was intended.
- It is very rare on public websites; redirect checks almost never encounter it.