Accepted

2xx Success

ELI5

We got your request and we're working on it! We'll process it later, but don't wait around - check back later to see if it's done.

Use 202 when the request is accepted but the real work will finish later, if it finishes at all.

•Return 202 for queued jobs, asynchronous workflows, and long-running processing
•Use it when the server is deliberately not committing to an immediate final outcome
•Long-running background tasks
•Batch processing operations
•Email sending or bulk operations
•File processing that takes significant time
•Queue-based systems where processing happens asynchronously

•Include enough status or tracking information for the client to monitor progress
•Return a job URI or status endpoint when the API supports follow-up polling

•Include a job identifier, monitor URL, or current accepted state in the response body

•Do not use 202 when the operation already completed and a final status is available
•Do not imply guaranteed success if background processing can still fail
•Immediate processing that completes quickly (use 200 OK)
•Resource creation that happens immediately (use 201 Created)
•When the operation completed synchronously with no body to return (use 204 No Content)
•When you need to guarantee completion before responding

Request:POST https://api.example.test/api/emails/bulk

Response:

202 Accepted

# Headers
Content-Type: application/json

# Body
{
  "jobId": "job_123",
  "status": "queued"
}

The server queued the job, but the actual sending result is not known yet.

Request:POST https://api.example.test/api/files/process

Response:

202 Accepted

# Headers
Location: https://api.example.test/api/jobs/456

The server accepted the work and gives the client a place to monitor progress.

Everything worked perfectly! The server understood your request and sent back exactly what you asked for.

Something new was created! Like adding a new post, user account, or file - the server made it and it now exists.

Success. The server did what you asked, but there’s nothing useful to send back in the body.