Understanding HTTP GET Request with Headers

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 67 views

Discussion Category: Android, Http Headers, Http Get

Additional Information: From your Android app, you want to request a URL with GET parameters and read the response. In the request, you must add two header parameters (key and dt). You have written some code but are experiencing a 404 error. This article will guide you through the process of sending an HTTP GET request with headers in Android and provide a solution to your 404 error issue.

Understanding HTTP GET Request with Headers

Before we dive into the code, let's understand the basics of an HTTP GET request with headers. An HTTP GET request is a type of request that retrieves data from a server without modifying it. The request includes a URL, headers, and query parameters. The headers are key-value pairs that provide additional information about the request, such as authentication credentials or custom metadata.

Android Code to Send HTTP GET Request with Headers

To send an HTTP GET request with headers in Android, you can use the HttpURLConnection class or the OkHttp library. Here's an example using HttpURLConnection:

Using HttpURLConnection

import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLConnection;
import java.net.URLEncoder;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.BufferedWriter;
import java.io.IOException;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
// Define the URL and headers
String url = "https://example.com/api/data&quot;;
String key = "my_key";
String dt = "2022-01-01";
    // Create a URL object
    URL obj = new URL(url + &quot;?param1=value1&amp;param2=value2&quot;);

    // Open a connection to the URL
    URLConnection conn = obj.openConnection();

    // Set the headers
    conn.setRequestProperty(&quot;key&quot;, key);
    conn.setRequestProperty(&quot;dt&quot;, dt);

    // Get the response code
    int responseCode = conn.getResponseCode();

    // Check if the response code is 200 (OK)
    if (responseCode == 200) {
        // Get the response data
        java.util.Scanner s = new java.util.Scanner(conn.getInputStream()).useDelimiter(&quot;\\A&quot;);
        String response = s.hasNext() ? s.next() : &quot;&quot;;
        System.out.println(response);
    } else {
        System.out.println(&quot;Error: &quot; + responseCode);
    }
}

}

Using OkHttp

import okhttp3.OkHttpClient;
import okhttp3.Request;
import okhttp3.Response;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
// Define the URL and headers
String url = "https://example.com/api/data&quot;;
String key = "my_key";
String dt = "2022-01-01";
    // Create an OkHttpClient object
    OkHttpClient client = new OkHttpClient();

    // Create a Request object
    Request request = new Request.Builder()
            .url(url + &quot;?param1=value1&amp;param2=value2&quot;)
            .header(&quot;key&quot;, key)
            .header(&quot;dt&quot;, dt)
            .build();

    // Execute the request
    Response response = client.newCall(request).execute();

    // Check if the response code is 200 (OK)
    if (response.code() == 200) {
        // Get the response data
        String responseString = response.body().string();
        System.out.println(responseString);
    } else {
        System.out.println(&quot;Error: &quot; + response.code());
    }
}

}

Troubleshooting 404 Error

If you're experiencing a 404 error, it's likely due to one of the following reasons:

Incorrect URL: Double-check that the URL is correct and the server is reachable.
Missing or incorrect headers: Ensure that the headers are correctly set and match the expected format.
Invalid query parameters: Verify that the query parameters are correctly formatted and match the expected format.

Best Practices for Sending HTTP GET Requests with Headers

When sending HTTP GET requests with headers, follow these best practices:

Use a reliable library: Use a reliable library like OkHttp or HttpURLConnection to send HTTP requests.
Set headers correctly: Ensure that the headers are correctly set and match the expected format.
Handle errors: Handle errors and exceptions properly to prevent crashes and provide meaningful error messages.
Test thoroughly: Test your code thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.

Conclusion

Discussion Category: Android, Http Headers, Http Get

Q&A: Android Send HTTP GET Request with Header

Q: What is the difference between HttpURLConnection and OkHttp?

A: HttpURLConnection is a built-in Android class for sending HTTP requests, while OkHttp is a third-party library that provides a more efficient and flexible way to send HTTP requests.

Q: How do I set headers in an HTTP GET request using HttpURLConnection?

A: You can set headers in an HTTP GET request using HttpURLConnection by calling the setRequestProperty method.

conn.setRequestProperty("key", key);
conn.setRequestProperty("dt", dt);

Q: How do I set headers in an HTTP GET request using OkHttp?

A: You can set headers in an HTTP GET request using OkHttp by calling the header method.

Request request = new Request.Builder()
        .url(url + "?param1=value1&param2=value2")
        .header("key", key)
        .header("dt", dt)
        .build();

Q: What is the difference between `getInputStream()` and `getErrorStream()`?

A: getInputStream() returns the input stream of the response, while getErrorStream() returns the input stream of the error response.

Q: How do I handle errors in an HTTP GET request?

A: You can handle errors in an HTTP GET request by checking the response code and handling exceptions.

int responseCode = conn.getResponseCode();
if (responseCode == 200) 
// Get the response data
java.util.Scanner s = new java.util.Scanner(conn.getInputStream()).useDelimiter("\A");
String response = s.hasNext() ? s.next()  "";
System.out.println(response);
 else 
System.out.println("Error " + responseCode);

Q: What is the difference between `response.body().string()` and `response.body().bytes()`?

A: response.body().string() returns the response body as a string, while response.body().bytes() returns the response body as a byte array.

Q: How do I handle large responses in an HTTP GET request?

A: You can handle large responses in an HTTP GET request by using a streaming approach, such as using a BufferedReader to read the response in chunks.

BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(response.body().byteStream()));
String line;
while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
    System.out.println(line);
}

Conclusion

Sending HTTP GET requests with headers in Android is a common task that requires attention to detail. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your code is reliable, efficient, and easy to maintain. Remember to troubleshoot 404 errors by checking the URL, headers, and query parameters. With practice and experience, you'll become proficient in sending HTTP GET requests with headers in Android.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: 404 Error

Solution: Check the URL, headers, and query parameters to ensure that they are correct.

Issue: Connection Timeout

Solution: Increase the connection timeout by calling setConnectTimeout on the URLConnection object.

conn.setConnectTimeout(30000);

Issue: Read Timeout

Solution: Increase the read timeout by calling setReadTimeout on the URLConnection object.

conn.setReadTimeout(30000);

Issue: SSL Certificate Error

Solution: Ignore the SSL certificate error by calling setHostnameVerifier on the OkHttpClient object.

client.setHostnameVerifier(new HostnameVerifier() {
    @Override
    public boolean verify(String hostname, SSLSession session) {
        return true;
    }
});

Best Practices for Sending HTTP GET Requests with Headers

When sending HTTP GET requests with headers, follow these best practices:

Use a reliable library: Use a reliable library like OkHttp or HttpURLConnection to send HTTP requests.
Set headers correctly: Ensure that the headers are correctly set and match the expected format.
Handle errors: Handle errors and exceptions properly to prevent crashes and provide meaningful error messages.
Test thoroughly: Test your code thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.