---
title: "205 Reset Content — what it means and how to fix it"
description: "The request succeeded and the client should clear the form that sent it. What causes an HTTP 205, what to try as a visitor, and what to check if it is your own site."
url: https://atoneplace.net/error/205/
site: "At One Place"
---

# HTTP 205 — Reset Content

**HTTP 205: Reset Content**

The request succeeded and the client should clear the form that sent it.

## What 205 actually means

Like 204, but with an extra instruction: reset the document view — in practice, empty the form fields so the user can enter another entry. It was designed for data-entry screens where someone submits record after record. Modern applications handle this in JavaScript instead, so 205 is almost never seen.

## Common causes

- A data-entry form submission designed for repeated entries
- A legacy application following the original form-submission model

## If you're just trying to view the page

1. Nothing — your submission was accepted and the form has been cleared for the next one
2. If the form did not clear, your browser simply ignored the instruction; the data was still saved

## If it's your site

1. Very few clients actually implement the reset behaviour; do not rely on it
2. Use 204 plus explicit client-side handling if you need the form cleared
3. Like 204, a 205 must not carry a body

## Reference

- **Status code:** 205
- **Reason phrase:** Reset Content
- **Category:** 2xx — Success
- **Defined in:** RFC 9110 §15.3.6

## Common questions

### What does HTTP 205 mean?

The request succeeded and the client should clear the form that sent it. Like 204, but with an extra instruction: reset the document view — in practice, empty the form fields so the user can enter another entry. It was designed for data-entry screens where someone submits record after record.

### How do I fix a 205 error?

Nothing — your submission was accepted and the form has been cleared for the next one

### Is 205 a client error or a server error?

205 is in the 2xx range, which means success. It is not an error at all.

## Related pages

- [200 OK](https://atoneplace.net/error/200/)
- [204 No Content](https://atoneplace.net/error/204/)
- [201 Created](https://atoneplace.net/error/201/)
- [206 Partial Content](https://atoneplace.net/error/206/)
- [202 Accepted](https://atoneplace.net/error/202/)
- [207 Multi-Status](https://atoneplace.net/error/207/)
- [203 Non-Authoritative Information](https://atoneplace.net/error/203/)
- [208 Already Reported](https://atoneplace.net/error/208/)
- [226 IM Used](https://atoneplace.net/error/226/)

## Sources

- Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Status Code Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/http-status-codes/)
- RFC 9110: HTTP Semantics — IETF (https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9110.html)