What it means
The request URL is longer than the server will interpret.
Common causes
- Huge query strings, for example filters or data encoded in the URL
- Redirect loops that keep appending parameters
- GET used where POST should carry the data
How to fix it
As a client or visitor
Move large data into a POST body and keep URLs under about 2,000 characters.
As the site or API owner
Fix redirect loops; if long URLs are legitimate, raise large_client_header_buffers in nginx or LimitRequestLine in Apache.
Example response
HTTP/1.1
HTTP/1.1 414 URI Too Long
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:30:00 GMT
Server: nginx
Content-Length: 0Specification
FAQ
› What is the maximum URL length?
No fixed limit in the spec; servers typically allow 8 KB and browsers around 2 MB, but keep URLs short for compatibility.
› Can a redirect loop cause 414?
Yes. Each hop adds parameters until the URL becomes too long.