HTTP Status Code 440 – Login Time-Out
The HTTP status code 440 Login Time-Out is a proprietary status code used by Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS). It indicates that the user’s session has expired, usually due to inactivity, and that the user must log in again to continue using the application. This status code is not part of the official HTTP status code list, but it is commonly encountered in environments using Windows authentication and session management.
Examples
Example 1: User Session Expiration
Consider an enterprise web application where users must authenticate to access their dashboards. If a user remains inactive for a certain time, the server may terminate the session for security reasons. The server responds with a 440 status code when the user attempts to perform an action after the session has expired:
HTTP/1.1 440 Login Time-Out
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:30:00 GMT
Server: Microsoft-IIS/10.0
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 0
This response indicates that the user needs to log in again to regain access.
Example 2: Web Application with Form Authentication
Imagine a web application with form-based authentication. After a period of inactivity, the server invalidates the session for security reasons. When the user tries to submit a form or navigate to another page, the server sends a 440 response:
HTTP/1.1 440 Login Time-Out
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:45:00 GMT
Server: Microsoft-IIS/8.5
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 0
The user’s session has timed out, and they must log back in to continue using the application.
Example 3 Scenario
# Client sends a request example.
GET /example HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
# Server Response
HTTP/1.1 440 440 Login Time-Out
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:07:51 GMT
Server: ExampleServer/1.0
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": "Description of the error for 440"
}
Example 4 different Scenario
# Client sends another example request.
POST /another-example HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
# Server Response
HTTP/1.1 440 440 Login Time-Out
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:07:51 GMT
Server: ExampleServer/1.0
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": "Detailed message for 440"
}
Summary
The 440 Login Time-Out status code is specific to Microsoft IIS environments, indicating that a user’s session has expired due to inactivity. It is primarily used in applications that require user authentication and session management. When a 440 status code is encountered, users must log in again to access the application. Although not part of the official HTTP standard, it plays a crucial role in maintaining security in web applications by ensuring that only authenticated and active sessions remain valid.
