What does 304 Not Modified Mean?

The HTTP status code "304 Not Modified" indicates that the requested content remains unchanged since its last access. This means the client can use its cached version of the resource instead of downloading it again from the server, improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary data transfer.

For example, when a browser makes a request for an image or webpage, it may include information about the last time it accessed that resource. If the resource hasn't changed since that time, the server will respond with a 304 status code, telling the browser to use its cached version. This helps speed up loading times and reduces the load on both the server and the network.