HTTP 506 Variant Also Negotiates
Updated Free mock REST & WebSocket APIs
HTTP 506 Variant Also Negotiates — Server misconfiguration: the chosen content-negotiation variant is itself configured to negotiate, creating a loop.
- Class
- 5xx Server Error
- Defined in
- RFC 2295
- Official
- Yes (IANA registry)
- Cacheable by default
- No (unless Cache-Control/Expires say so)
- Safe to retry
- Sometimes — idempotent requests only
Try it: get a real 506 response
Our test endpoint answers every request with 506 Variant Also Negotiates.
curl -i https://mockfox.dev/api/status/506Use it in tests, health-check monitors or to see how your client handles a 506. Add ?delay=2000 to slow it down.
What does HTTP 506 mean?
From the experimental Transparent Content Negotiation spec. It indicates a configuration error in a server such as Apache with MultiViews/type-maps where a variant points back to a negotiable resource. Essentially never seen outside that setup.
How to fix 506
- Visitors: This is a server-side problem — wait a moment and retry, or check the site's status page.
- Developers: Check application and proxy logs at the time of the error, verify upstream services are healthy, and alert on 5xx rates.
Example 506 response
HTTP/1.1 506 Variant Also Negotiates
Content-Type: application/json
{"status":506,"error":"Variant Also Negotiates"}5xx Server Error: The server failed to fulfill a valid request — usually temporary, or a server-side bug. See the full list of HTTP status codes.
Related status codes
- 500 Internal Server ErrorThe server hit an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.
- 300 Multiple ChoicesThe resource has several representations and the client (or user) should choose one.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
What does HTTP 506 Variant Also Negotiates mean?
Server misconfiguration: the chosen content-negotiation variant is itself configured to negotiate, creating a loop.
Is 506 a client or a server error?
506 is a 5xx code: the server failed to handle a request that may be perfectly valid. It's often temporary.
Where is 506 defined?
In RFC 2295. It's listed in the IANA HTTP Status Code Registry.
How can I test how my app handles a 506?
Call https://mockfox.dev/api/status/506 — it responds with 506 to any method, with CORS enabled. Add ?delay=2000 to simulate a slow response.