What does HTTP status code 305 mean?
The 305 Use Proxy status code was originally defined to tell a client that the requested resource must be accessed through the proxy specified in the Location header. It never saw meaningful adoption.
When to use it in APIs
Do not use it. RFC 7231 explicitly deprecates 305 due to security concerns: it could be used to redirect a client’s traffic through an arbitrary proxy, and most browsers and HTTP clients ignore it entirely for this reason. It is documented here only for completeness and historical reference, not as a viable option for API design.
How it compares to other codes
- 300 Multiple Choices: A live, general-purpose redirection code, unlike 305, which is deprecated and unsupported in practice.
