HTTP HEAD Request in Javascript/Ajax?

Question

Is it possible to do a HTTP Head request solely using an XMLHTTPRequest in JavaScript?

My motivation is to conserve bandwidth.

If not, is it possible to fake it?

Answer 1

Easy, just use the HEAD method, instead of GET or POST:

function UrlExists(url)
{
  var http = new XMLHttpRequest();
  http.open('HEAD', url, false);
  http.send();
  return http.status!=404;
}

Answer 2

An XMLHTTPRequest object should have

getAllResponseHeaders();
getResponseHeader("header-name")

defined on it

Answer 3

Yes, check this...