HTTP Content Negotiation for Consolidated Machine-Readable Representations

This document specifies the use of HTTP content negotiation with the Prefer header to request consolidated, machine-optimised representations of web resources. Clients use the Accept header for format negotiation and the Prefer header with return=consolidated to request content optimised for automated consumption. Publishers benefit from dramatically reduced request volume and the ability to present contextually complete information, improving both operational efficiency and content effectiveness. Consolidated resources enable practical caching, further reducing load. This document introduces a single new preference value for the existing Prefer header and otherwise relies solely on established HTTP mechanisms.