HTTP error codes can be confusing, especially when they disrupt your web scraping or automation tasks. One such error is the HTTP 405 error, which signals a problem with how a request is being made.

This article breaks down the meaning of the 405 error, its causes, and what it might mean if you're being blocked. We'll also explore ways to bypass this issue using Scrapfly.

What is HTTP Error 405?

HTTP error 405, "Method Not Allowed" , occurs when a client attempts to interact with a server using an HTTP method that the server does not support for the requested resource. In simple terms, it’s like knocking on the wrong door; the server understands your request but can't process it because the request method you're using isn't allowed for that resource.

What are HTTP 405 Error Causes?

The main cause of the http status 405 is using an incorrect HTTP method. Each resource on a server is configured to handle certain types of requests (methods), such as:

GET : Retrieves data from the server.
POST : Sends data to the server for processing.
PUT : Updates a resource.
DELETE : Removes a resource.
HEAD : Retrieves only the headers of a resource.

For example, if you try to update data using a GET method or retrieve information using POST, you'll likely trigger a http code 405. This issue often occurs when the user is unaware of the available methods for a given resource.

To avoid this, it’s essential to understand what methods are allowed and use the correct one for your task, especially when working with APIs or interacting with websites programmatically.

Changing HTTP Reequest Method

Most tools and programming libraries used to send HTTP requests default to setting the HTTP method to GET if not specified. Most 405 errors occur due to the user being unfamiliar with how to change the default request method. Here is an example on how to change the request method in cURL:

curl -X GET "https://httpbin.dev/get"
# post plain text
curl -X POST https://httpbin.dev/post -d "my data" -H "Content-Type: text/plain"
# post json
curl -X POST https://httpbin.dev/post -d '{"name": "my query"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json"
curl -X PUT "https://httpbin.dev/put"
curl -X DELETE "https://httpbin.dev/delete"
curl -X HEAD "https://httpbin.dev/head"

Practical Example

To understand 405 errors more, let's use the web-scraping.dev API to demonstrate how we can get a 405 http code deliberately.

We will be using cURL to send a POST request to the endpoint /api/review which is made to only accept GET requests.

curl -X 'POST' 'https://web-scraping.dev/api/review?product_id=1' -v

The -v is the verbose output parameter which allows us to see the http status code returned.

In the curl output, we will see the http status code returned and the Allow header which lists the set of methods supported by a resource.

* Request completely sent off
< HTTP/2 405 
< allow: GET

We can also see the http error message returned in the response body

{"detail":"Method Not Allowed"}

You can learn more about sending GET requests with cURL in our dedicated article.

405 Can Mean You're Blocked

While a 405 http error is technically about incorrect methods, it can also indicate that your connection is being blocked deliberately. Websites sometimes misconfigure their responses or misuse status codes to confuse bots and automated systems. In some cases, a 405 error could be masking an attempt to block your activity.

For instance, websites might throw random error codes, including 405, as part of anti-bot mechanisms. This tactic is commonly employed to hinder automated scraping tools, leading to a false sense of malfunction. If you're scraping data and encounter a 405 error, it might not just be about using the wrong method—it could signal that the website is intentionally blocking your connection.

Bypassing 405 blocking

To bypass 405 blocking you can start with scraping tools that fortify your requests against common detection techniques like:

curl-impersonate - can enhance cURL client fingerprint to mimic a real web browser.
undetected-chromedriver - can improve your Selenium scrapers to resists browser fingerprinting.

These are just few tools that can help you with 405 bypass for more see our full intro on anti-bot detection.

Powerup 405 Bypass with Scrapfly

Differentiating real 405 errors from 405 errors masking scraper blocking can be difficult - let Scrapfly do it for you!

ScrapFly provides web scraping, screenshot, and extraction APIs for data collection at scale.

Anti-bot protection bypass - scrape web pages without blocking!
Rotating residential proxies - prevent IP address and geographic blocks.
JavaScript rendering - scrape dynamic web pages through cloud browsers.
Full browser automation - control browsers to scroll, input and click on objects.
Format conversion - scrape as HTML, JSON, Text, or Markdown.
Python and Typescript SDKs, as well as Scrapy and no-code tool integrations.

It takes Scrapfly several full-time engineers to maintain this system, so you don't have to!

Scrapfly API also allows full customization of your HTTP requests with custom headers, methods, cookies and other HTTP parameters. This makes it easy to prevent 405 errors caused by wrong http methods or headers. You can learn more about request customization and much more in our Scrapfly API docs

Summary

In summary, HTTP 405 errors can arise from something as simple as using the wrong HTTP method, but they can also indicate more deliberate blocks put in place by websites. Understanding the root cause of a 405 error is key to resolving it. If you're dealing with intentional blocks, tools like Scrapfly can provide the advanced capabilities needed to bypass them, keeping your scraping efforts on track.

What is HTTP 405 Error? (Method Not Allowed)