---
set: 4
code: 421
title: Misdirected Request
references:
    "Rails HTTP Status Symbol": ":misdirected_request"
---

The request was directed at a server that is not able to produce a response.
This can be sent by a server that is not configured to produce responses for the
combination of scheme and authority that are included in the request URI.

Clients receiving a 421 Misdirected Request response from a server MAY retry
the request -- whether the request method is idempotent or not -- over a
different connection. This is possible if a connection is
reused<sup>[1](#ref-1)</sup>or if an alternative service is selected
[ALT-SVC][3].

This status code MUST NOT be generated by proxies.

A 421 response is cacheable by default, i.e., unless otherwise indicated by the
method definition or explicit cache controls<sup>[2](#ref-2)</sup>.

---

* <span id="ref-1"><sup>1</sup> Connection Reuse
[RFC7540 Section 9.1.1][2]</span>
* <span id="ref-2"><sup>2</sup> Calculating Heuristic Freshness
[RFC7234 Section 4.2.2][4]</span>
* Source: [RFC7540 Section 9.1.2][1]

[1]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7540#section-9.1.2>
[2]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7540#section-9.1.1>
[3]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7540#ref-ALT-SVC>
[4]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7234#section-4.2.2>