HTTP headers / request header

Accept

Accept: application/json

What it does

Tells the server which media types the client can handle, with optional quality weights (q=). The server picks the best match or answers 406.

The gotcha

Most servers ignore it and return their one format anyway — do not rely on Accept alone to switch formats unless the API documents it.

Debugging headers on a phone

The fastest way to see what Accept is actually doing is to send the request and read both sides raw — ReqPad shows auto-generated and custom headers for every request, on all six protocols, with history. Related references: status codes · Authorization · Accept-Encoding · Accept-Language · If-None-Match · If-Match · If-Modified-Since

Inspect Accept on a live request.

Build the request, send it, read raw headers and timing — from your iPhone. Free to start.