999 Request Denied
The 999 HTTP response status code is an unofficial catch-all error code returned by servers.
You can Check Your URLs HTTP Code for FREE
Introduction
In Action
Sample
Conclusion
Introduction
The HTTP status code 999, labeled as “Request Denied,” is an unofficial catch-all error code returned by servers.
It signifies that the request has been denied, but the specific reason for the denial can vary depending on the service or host being used.
In Action
The 999 Request Denied status code is used differently by various hosts, and its consequences vary accordingly. For instance, some social media platforms use it to restrict web crawlers.
When accessing LinkedIn profiles through specific HTTP requests, the 999 status code may be returned due to factors like the user agent or excessive requests in a day, similar to the 429 Too Many Requests error. The 999 status code can be intermittent and might only apply for a limited period.
Sample
In this example, when using a web browser to visit the LinkedIn profile URL (https://www.linkedin.com/in/filwiese), you will see the profile of Fili, the creator of the website.
However, if you use a tool like ‘curl’ with the specified command, it’ll send an HTTP GET request to the same URL and may receive a 999 Request Denied status code as a response. The reason for this discrepancy is that LinkedIn might restrict access to its profiles when accessed through certain tools, such as ‘curl’.
Request
GET /in/filwiese HTTP/1.1
Host: www.linkedin.com
User-Agent: curl/7.74.0
Accept: */*
Response
HTTP/1.1 999 Request Denied
Cache-Control: no-cache, no-store
Pragma: no-cache
… < additional headers including Content-Length, Content-Type, etc>
Conclusion
The 999 Request Denied status code is an unofficial and catch-all error used by some services or websites to restrict access or prevent certain types of requests. It can vary in its meaning and consequences based on the specific service or host, and it is often used to limit web crawlers or automated tools from accessing certain resources.
