The plain-English version
The process of choosing a suitable representation using request information and server capabilities.
Why it matters
It matters when one resource can be provided in several formats or languages.
Let’s make it click
A client requests application/json with the Accept header, and the server selects a supported JSON representation for its response.
Vibe Bro’s heads-up
Caches must distinguish representations correctly; returning one user’s language or format to another can produce confusing results.
The docs behind it
Documentation links checked .
Editorial review · October 28, 2026
Corrected: Use response representation selection as the example of HTTP negotiation. The previous request-body rejection example primarily illustrated media-type validation.