Date
Both directions
The moment the message was generated.
| On the wire | Date: … |
|---|---|
| Category | Both directions |
Headers that can appear on either side.
How to read this
- The first digit of a status code carries the meaning: 4 means the request, 5 means the server.
- 404 means "not there"; 403 means "there, but not for you". Swapping them makes debugging slower.
- Header names are case-insensitive — Content-Type and content-type are the same header.
- Caching and CORS problems usually come down to one header line, visible in the browser’s network tab.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does HTTP Date mean?
The moment the message was generated.
Q. What does Date look like on the wire?
It travels as Date: …
Q. Where does Date appear?
In both directions.
Q. What group does Date belong to?
The both directions group; the rest of that group is listed further down.