HTTP 413 Payload Too Large
The request payload is larger than the server is willing to process.
4xx Client Error
413
Payload Too Large
Description
The 413 Payload Too Large status code indicates that the server is refusing to process a request because the request payload is larger than the server is willing or able to process. The server may close the connection to prevent the client from continuing the request. If the condition is temporary, the server should generate a Retry-After header field to indicate that it is temporary and after what time the client may try again. Previously known as 413 Request Entity Too Large, the name was changed in RFC 7231 to more accurately describe the semantics.
When Is It Used?
Returned when a file upload exceeds the server's size limit, when a JSON request body is too large, or when any request payload exceeds configured thresholds. Common with file upload endpoints and API gateways with request size limits.
Example Response
HTTP/1.1 413 Payload Too Large
Retry-After: 3600
Content-Type: application/json
{"error": "payload_too_large", "message": "Maximum upload size is 10MB"}