5xx Server Errors
HTTP 508 Loop Detected
The server detected an infinite loop while processing the request (WebDAV).
When is 508 used?
- Circular references in WebDAV bindings
How to handle a 508 response
The problem is on the server side. Check server and proxy logs, retry idempotent requests with exponential backoff, and alert on sustained 5xx rates.
Check the status code a URL returns from the command line:
curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}\n" https://example.comHow to return 508 from your server
Node.js (Express)
res.status(508).json({ message: 'Loop Detected' });Python (Flask)
return {"message": "Loop Detected"}, 508Go (net/http)
w.WriteHeader(508)Frequently Asked Questions
What does HTTP 508 mean?
508 Loop Detected: The server detected an infinite loop while processing the request (WebDAV).
Is 508 an error?
Yes. 508 is in the 5xx Server Errors class. Server errors: the server failed to fulfil an apparently valid request.