What does HTTP status code 207 mean?
The 207 Multi-Status status code indicates that the response body is a single XML (or JSON, in modern APIs) document containing several separate status codes, one for each of multiple independent operations performed as part of the same request.
When to use it in APIs
Defined by WebDAV (RFC 4918) for operations like PROPFIND or batch COPY/DELETE requests that act on multiple resources at once, where some may succeed and others may fail. It is also a useful pattern for bulk or batch API endpoints that need to report per-item success and failure in a single call.
How it compares to other codes
- 200 OK: Implies the entire request succeeded as a single unit, whereas 207 reports mixed outcomes across several sub-requests.
- 208 Already Reported: Used inside a 207 response to avoid repeating bindings that were already listed for a previously enumerated resource.
