The Teapot Exists
draft-thomson-http-teapot-00

Abstract

The teapot exists.

Status of This Memo

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1. The Existence of Teapots

In an unpublished article in 1952 [TEAPOT], Bertrand Russell postulated the existence of a teapot:

• To take another illustration: nobody can prove that there is not between the Earth and Mars a china teapot revolving in an elliptical orbit, but nobody thinks this sufficiently likely to be taken into account in practice.

Though mentioned originally in jest and without solid evidence of its existence, first by Russell and later by Masinter [HTCPCP], sightings have increased in recent years.

The teapot exists.

2. Philosophical Considerations

We cannot be certain whether the teapot is cognizant of its own existence. Though Decartes [COGITO] used thought as the basis of his theory of existence, it’s not established whether thought is a necessary precondition for existence.

                              (418)
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3. Security Considerations

Even jokes can have serious consequences. Arguably, the best jokes always have consequences.

4. IANA Considerations

IANA shall register the 418 (I’m a Teapot) status code in the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Status Code Registry, citing this document.

As recommended by [RFC7231], this document refines the definition of the 418 status code. Being a teapot is irrevocable, therefore this status code is cacheable. The payload of a response with a 418 status code isn’t a representation of the effective request URI unless the Content-Location header field contains the effective request URI.

5. References

5.1. Normative References

5.2. Informative References

Author's Address

Table of Contents

• 1. The Existence of Teapots
• 2. Philosophical Considerations
• 3. Security Considerations
• 4. IANA Considerations
• 5. References
• 5.1. Normative References
• 5.2. Informative References
• Author's Address