200-901 Understanding and Using APIs Practice Question
Which header is used in an HTTP request to tell the server the format of the request body?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Content-Type
Content-Type header specifies the media type of the request body, e.g., application/json.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Authorization
Why it's wrong here
Authorization carries credentials proving the client's identity or permissions, not a media type describing the request body. It is tempting because it accompanies many requests and appears important, and it would be correct when accessing a protected resource requiring authentication.
- ✓
Content-Type
Why this is correct
Content-Type declares the media type of the request body, letting the server parse it correctly. Without it, the server may reject the payload or misinterpret JSON as form data, so it satisfies the requirement to state the body's format.
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Accept
Why it's wrong here
Accept lists media types the client will accept in the response, not the request body's format. Content-Type declares the request payload's media type, so the server can parse it. Accept is tempting because it also names media types, but it governs response content negotiation, making it correct when a client must specify desired response formats.
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Host
Why it's wrong here
Host identifies the target server and port for routing the request, carrying no media-type information about the body. It is tempting because it is mandatory in HTTP/1.1 requests, and it would be the correct header when the server must know which virtual host to serve.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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