diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php
index 6ed6ce6674..3257194e54 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php
@@ -161,6 +161,18 @@ class WP_REST_Request implements ArrayAccess {
 		return $this->headers;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Determines if the request is the given method.
+	 *
+	 * @since 6.8.0
+	 *
+	 * @param string $method HTTP method.
+	 * @return bool Whether the request is of the given method.
+	 */
+	public function is_method( $method ) {
+		return $this->get_method() === strtoupper( $method );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Canonicalizes the header name.
 	 *
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-autosaves-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-autosaves-controller.php
index 5545625df4..43fd8d3b29 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-autosaves-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-autosaves-controller.php
@@ -305,6 +305,10 @@ class WP_REST_Autosaves_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Controller {
 			return $parent;
 		}
 
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
 		$response  = array();
 		$parent_id = $parent->ID;
 		$revisions = wp_get_post_revisions( $parent_id, array( 'check_enabled' => false ) );
@@ -448,6 +452,11 @@ class WP_REST_Autosaves_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$post = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-autosaves-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_autosave', new WP_REST_Response(), $post, $request );
+		}
 		$response = $this->revisions_controller->prepare_item_for_response( $post, $request );
 		$fields   = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-pattern-categories-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-pattern-categories-controller.php
index 5d31891678..86ee4cdc52 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-pattern-categories-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-pattern-categories-controller.php
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ class WP_REST_Block_Pattern_Categories_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$response   = array();
 		$categories = WP_Block_Pattern_Categories_Registry::get_instance()->get_all_registered();
 		foreach ( $categories as $category ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-types-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-types-controller.php
index 263f2a8ef2..f167d72255 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-types-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-types-controller.php
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ class WP_REST_Block_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$data        = array();
 		$block_types = $this->block_registry->get_all_registered();
 
@@ -250,6 +255,12 @@ class WP_REST_Block_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$block_type = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-block-types-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_block_type', new WP_REST_Response(), $block_type, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-comments-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-comments-controller.php
index 6f44d1e1b2..57214ef62e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-comments-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-comments-controller.php
@@ -262,6 +262,14 @@ class WP_REST_Comments_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			$prepared_args['offset'] = $prepared_args['number'] * ( absint( $request['page'] ) - 1 );
 		}
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+		if ( $is_head_request ) {
+			// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only post IDs are required to calculate pagination.
+			$prepared_args['fields'] = 'ids';
+			// Disable priming comment meta for HEAD requests to improve performance.
+			$prepared_args['update_comment_meta_cache'] = false;
+		}
+
 		/**
 		 * Filters WP_Comment_Query arguments when querying comments via the REST API.
 		 *
@@ -277,15 +285,17 @@ class WP_REST_Comments_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		$query        = new WP_Comment_Query();
 		$query_result = $query->query( $prepared_args );
 
-		$comments = array();
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$comments = array();
 
-		foreach ( $query_result as $comment ) {
-			if ( ! $this->check_read_permission( $comment, $request ) ) {
-				continue;
+			foreach ( $query_result as $comment ) {
+				if ( ! $this->check_read_permission( $comment, $request ) ) {
+					continue;
+				}
+
+				$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $comment, $request );
+				$comments[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
 			}
-
-			$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $comment, $request );
-			$comments[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
 		}
 
 		$total_comments = (int) $query->found_comments;
@@ -303,7 +313,7 @@ class WP_REST_Comments_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			$max_pages      = (int) ceil( $total_comments / $request['per_page'] );
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $comments );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $comments );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', $total_comments );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', $max_pages );
 
@@ -1041,6 +1051,12 @@ class WP_REST_Comments_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$comment = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-comments-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_comment', new WP_REST_Response(), $comment, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php
index b409af4fc2..476f1b750f 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ class WP_REST_Font_Collections_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 
 		$collections_page = array_slice( $collections_all, ( $page - 1 ) * $per_page, $per_page );
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+
 		$items = array();
 		foreach ( $collections_page as $collection ) {
 			$item = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $collection, $request );
@@ -97,11 +99,21 @@ class WP_REST_Font_Collections_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			if ( is_wp_error( $item ) ) {
 				continue;
 			}
+
+			/*
+			 * Skip preparing the response body for HEAD requests.
+			 * Cannot exit earlier due to backward compatibility reasons,
+			 * as validation occurs in the prepare_item_for_response method.
+			 */
+			if ( $is_head_request ) {
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			$item    = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $item );
 			$items[] = $item;
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $items );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $items );
 
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', (int) $total_items );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', $max_pages );
@@ -175,6 +187,15 @@ class WP_REST_Font_Collections_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 				return $collection_data;
 			}
 
+			/**
+			 * Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+			 * Can't exit at the beginning of the method due to the potential need to return a WP_Error object.
+			 */
+			if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+				/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php */
+				return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_font_collection', new WP_REST_Response(), $item, $request );
+			}
+
 			foreach ( $data_fields as $field ) {
 				if ( rest_is_field_included( $field, $fields ) ) {
 					$data[ $field ] = $collection_data[ $field ];
@@ -182,6 +203,15 @@ class WP_REST_Font_Collections_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			}
 		}
 
+		/**
+		 * Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		 * Can't exit at the beginning of the method due to the potential need to return a WP_Error object.
+		 */
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-font-collections-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_font_collection', new WP_REST_Response(), $item, $request );
+		}
+
 		$response = rest_ensure_response( $data );
 
 		if ( rest_is_field_included( '_links', $fields ) ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-global-styles-revisions-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-global-styles-revisions-controller.php
index 4108f9711c..e214ab6d39 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-global-styles-revisions-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-global-styles-revisions-controller.php
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ class WP_REST_Global_Styles_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Contr
 			return $global_styles_config;
 		}
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+
 		if ( wp_revisions_enabled( $parent ) ) {
 			$registered = $this->get_collection_params();
 			$query_args = array(
@@ -186,6 +188,14 @@ class WP_REST_Global_Styles_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Contr
 				}
 			}
 
+			if ( $is_head_request ) {
+				// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only post IDs are required to calculate pagination.
+				$query_args['fields'] = 'ids';
+				// Disable priming post meta for HEAD requests to improve performance.
+				$query_args['update_post_term_cache'] = false;
+				$query_args['update_post_meta_cache'] = false;
+			}
+
 			$revisions_query = new WP_Query();
 			$revisions       = $revisions_query->query( $query_args );
 			$offset          = isset( $query_args['offset'] ) ? (int) $query_args['offset'] : 0;
@@ -228,15 +238,19 @@ class WP_REST_Global_Styles_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Contr
 			$page            = (int) $request['page'];
 		}
 
-		$response = array();
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$response = array();
 
-		foreach ( $revisions as $revision ) {
-			$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $revision, $request );
-			$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			foreach ( $revisions as $revision ) {
+				$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $revision, $request );
+				$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
+
+			$response = rest_ensure_response( $response );
+		} else {
+			$response = new WP_REST_Response();
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $response );
-
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', (int) $total_revisions );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', (int) $max_pages );
 
@@ -275,6 +289,11 @@ class WP_REST_Global_Styles_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Contr
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object.
 	 */
 	public function prepare_item_for_response( $post, $request ) {
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$parent               = $this->get_parent( $request['parent'] );
 		$global_styles_config = $this->get_decoded_global_styles_json( $post->post_content );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
index e31c47ee61..4dda8b3455 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
@@ -161,6 +161,11 @@ class WP_REST_Pattern_Directory_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			return $raw_patterns;
 		}
 
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$response = array();
 
 		if ( $raw_patterns ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-post-types-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-post-types-controller.php
index d766d5c61d..6ead90af59 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-post-types-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-post-types-controller.php
@@ -109,6 +109,11 @@ class WP_REST_Post_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$data  = array();
 		$types = get_post_types( array( 'show_in_rest' => true ), 'objects' );
 
@@ -178,6 +183,12 @@ class WP_REST_Post_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$post_type = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-post-types-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_post_type', new WP_REST_Response(), $post_type, $request );
+		}
+
 		$taxonomies = wp_list_filter( get_object_taxonomies( $post_type->name, 'objects' ), array( 'show_in_rest' => true ) );
 		$taxonomies = wp_list_pluck( $taxonomies, 'name' );
 		$base       = ! empty( $post_type->rest_base ) ? $post_type->rest_base : $post_type->name;
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
index cb25207fc5..37b7c6305a 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php
@@ -411,6 +411,15 @@ class WP_REST_Posts_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Force the post_type argument, since it's not a user input variable.
 		$args['post_type'] = $this->post_type;
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+		if ( $is_head_request ) {
+			// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only post IDs are required to calculate pagination.
+			$args['fields'] = 'ids';
+			// Disable priming post meta for HEAD requests to improve performance.
+			$args['update_post_term_cache'] = false;
+			$args['update_post_meta_cache'] = false;
+		}
+
 		/**
 		 * Filters WP_Query arguments when querying posts via the REST API.
 		 *
@@ -443,22 +452,24 @@ class WP_REST_Posts_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			add_filter( 'post_password_required', array( $this, 'check_password_required' ), 10, 2 );
 		}
 
-		$posts = array();
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$posts = array();
 
-		update_post_author_caches( $query_result );
-		update_post_parent_caches( $query_result );
+			update_post_author_caches( $query_result );
+			update_post_parent_caches( $query_result );
 
-		if ( post_type_supports( $this->post_type, 'thumbnail' ) ) {
-			update_post_thumbnail_cache( $posts_query );
-		}
-
-		foreach ( $query_result as $post ) {
-			if ( ! $this->check_read_permission( $post ) ) {
-				continue;
+			if ( post_type_supports( $this->post_type, 'thumbnail' ) ) {
+				update_post_thumbnail_cache( $posts_query );
 			}
 
-			$data    = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $post, $request );
-			$posts[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			foreach ( $query_result as $post ) {
+				if ( ! $this->check_read_permission( $post ) ) {
+					continue;
+				}
+
+				$data    = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $post, $request );
+				$posts[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Reset filter.
@@ -488,7 +499,7 @@ class WP_REST_Posts_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			);
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $posts );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $posts );
 
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', (int) $total_posts );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', (int) $max_pages );
@@ -1833,6 +1844,12 @@ class WP_REST_Posts_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 
 		setup_postdata( $post );
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( "rest_prepare_{$this->post_type}", new WP_REST_Response(), $post, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 
 		// Base fields for every post.
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-revisions-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-revisions-controller.php
index 1dbc611631..2756e3d751 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-revisions-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-revisions-controller.php
@@ -253,6 +253,8 @@ class WP_REST_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			);
 		}
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+
 		if ( wp_revisions_enabled( $parent ) ) {
 			$registered = $this->get_collection_params();
 			$args       = array(
@@ -287,6 +289,14 @@ class WP_REST_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 				$args['orderby'] = 'date ID';
 			}
 
+			if ( $is_head_request ) {
+				// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only post IDs are required to calculate pagination.
+				$args['fields'] = 'ids';
+				// Disable priming post meta for HEAD requests to improve performance.
+				$args['update_post_term_cache'] = false;
+				$args['update_post_meta_cache'] = false;
+			}
+
 			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php */
 			$args       = apply_filters( 'rest_revision_query', $args, $request );
 			$query_args = $this->prepare_items_query( $args, $request );
@@ -335,15 +345,19 @@ class WP_REST_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			$page            = (int) $request['page'];
 		}
 
-		$response = array();
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$response = array();
 
-		foreach ( $revisions as $revision ) {
-			$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $revision, $request );
-			$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			foreach ( $revisions as $revision ) {
+				$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $revision, $request );
+				$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
+
+			$response = rest_ensure_response( $response );
+		} else {
+			$response = new WP_REST_Response();
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $response );
-
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', (int) $total_revisions );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', (int) $max_pages );
 
@@ -574,6 +588,12 @@ class WP_REST_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 
 		setup_postdata( $post );
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-revisions-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_revision', new WP_REST_Response(), $post, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-search-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-search-controller.php
index 55fe1ad63a..345a200c67 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-search-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-search-controller.php
@@ -142,11 +142,14 @@ class WP_REST_Search_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 
 		$ids = $result[ WP_REST_Search_Handler::RESULT_IDS ];
 
-		$results = array();
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$results = array();
 
-		foreach ( $ids as $id ) {
-			$data      = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $id, $request );
-			$results[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			foreach ( $ids as $id ) {
+				$data      = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $id, $request );
+				$results[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
 		}
 
 		$total     = (int) $result[ WP_REST_Search_Handler::RESULT_TOTAL ];
@@ -162,7 +165,7 @@ class WP_REST_Search_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			);
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $results );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $results );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-Total', $total );
 		$response->header( 'X-WP-TotalPages', $max_pages );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php
index 4ff1007237..95a24cf53e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ class WP_REST_Sidebars_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response Response object on success.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$this->retrieve_widgets();
 
 		$data              = array();
@@ -321,6 +326,12 @@ class WP_REST_Sidebars_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$raw_sidebar = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_sidebar', new WP_REST_Response(), $raw_sidebar, $request );
+		}
+
 		$id      = $raw_sidebar['id'];
 		$sidebar = array( 'id' => $id );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-taxonomies-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-taxonomies-controller.php
index 0b15f3494c..b7492c8150 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-taxonomies-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-taxonomies-controller.php
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ class WP_REST_Taxonomies_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
 
 		// Retrieve the list of registered collection query parameters.
 		$registered = $this->get_collection_params();
@@ -210,6 +214,12 @@ class WP_REST_Taxonomies_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$taxonomy = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-taxonomies-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_taxonomy', new WP_REST_Response(), $taxonomy, $request );
+		}
+
 		$base = ! empty( $taxonomy->rest_base ) ? $taxonomy->rest_base : $taxonomy->name;
 
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-autosaves-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-autosaves-controller.php
index c996894a59..dbdca57508 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-autosaves-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-autosaves-controller.php
@@ -175,6 +175,11 @@ class WP_REST_Template_Autosaves_Controller extends WP_REST_Autosaves_Controller
 		$template = _build_block_template_result_from_post( $item );
 		$response = $this->parent_controller->prepare_item_for_response( $template, $request );
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			return $response;
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = $response->get_data();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-revisions-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-revisions-controller.php
index c0bc7663e1..f88b60372b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-revisions-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-template-revisions-controller.php
@@ -200,6 +200,11 @@ class WP_REST_Template_Revisions_Controller extends WP_REST_Revisions_Controller
 		$template = _build_block_template_result_from_post( $item );
 		$response = $this->parent_controller->prepare_item_for_response( $template, $request );
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			return $response;
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = $response->get_data();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
index 267f40e77f..45e0d59d5b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
@@ -269,6 +269,11 @@ class WP_REST_Templates_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$query = array();
 		if ( isset( $request['wp_id'] ) ) {
 			$query['wp_id'] = $request['wp_id'];
@@ -668,6 +673,11 @@ class WP_REST_Templates_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response Response object.
 	 */
 	public function prepare_item_for_response( $item, $request ) {
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		/*
 		 * Resolve pattern blocks so they don't need to be resolved client-side
 		 * in the editor, improving performance.
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-terms-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-terms-controller.php
index 455c83a68d..d927ba5e04 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-terms-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-terms-controller.php
@@ -312,6 +312,14 @@ class WP_REST_Terms_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			$prepared_args = array_merge( $prepared_args, $taxonomy_obj->args );
 		}
 
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+		if ( $is_head_request ) {
+			// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only term IDs are required.
+			$prepared_args['fields'] = 'ids';
+			// Disable priming term meta for HEAD requests to improve performance.
+			$prepared_args['update_term_meta_cache'] = false;
+		}
+
 		/**
 		 * Filters get_terms() arguments when querying terms via the REST API.
 		 *
@@ -354,14 +362,15 @@ class WP_REST_Terms_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			$total_terms = 0;
 		}
 
-		$response = array();
-
-		foreach ( $query_result as $term ) {
-			$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $term, $request );
-			$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$response = array();
+			foreach ( $query_result as $term ) {
+				$data       = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $term, $request );
+				$response[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $response );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $response );
 
 		// Store pagination values for headers.
 		$per_page = (int) $prepared_args['number'];
@@ -887,6 +896,12 @@ class WP_REST_Terms_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 */
 	public function prepare_item_for_response( $item, $request ) {
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-terms-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( "rest_prepare_{$this->taxonomy}", new WP_REST_Response(), $item, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-users-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-users-controller.php
index fd2f061171..3995bd1816 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-users-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-users-controller.php
@@ -355,6 +355,12 @@ class WP_REST_Users_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 			}
 			$prepared_args['search'] = '*' . $prepared_args['search'] . '*';
 		}
+
+		$is_head_request = $request->is_method( 'HEAD' );
+		if ( $is_head_request ) {
+			// Force the 'fields' argument. For HEAD requests, only user IDs are required.
+			$prepared_args['fields'] = 'id';
+		}
 		/**
 		 * Filters WP_User_Query arguments when querying users via the REST API.
 		 *
@@ -369,14 +375,16 @@ class WP_REST_Users_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 
 		$query = new WP_User_Query( $prepared_args );
 
-		$users = array();
+		if ( ! $is_head_request ) {
+			$users = array();
 
-		foreach ( $query->get_results() as $user ) {
-			$data    = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $user, $request );
-			$users[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			foreach ( $query->get_results() as $user ) {
+				$data    = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $user, $request );
+				$users[] = $this->prepare_response_for_collection( $data );
+			}
 		}
 
-		$response = rest_ensure_response( $users );
+		$response = $is_head_request ? new WP_REST_Response() : rest_ensure_response( $users );
 
 		// Store pagination values for headers then unset for count query.
 		$per_page = (int) $prepared_args['number'];
@@ -1021,6 +1029,12 @@ class WP_REST_Users_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$user = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-users-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_user', new WP_REST_Response(), $user, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array();
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widget-types-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widget-types-controller.php
index d70e524411..cd0aef0c87 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widget-types-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widget-types-controller.php
@@ -145,6 +145,11 @@ class WP_REST_Widget_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$data = array();
 		foreach ( $this->get_widgets() as $widget ) {
 			$widget_type = $this->prepare_item_for_response( $widget, $request );
@@ -298,6 +303,12 @@ class WP_REST_Widget_Types_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
 		$widget_type = $item;
 
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widget-types-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_widget_type', new WP_REST_Response(), $widget_type, $request );
+		}
+
 		$fields = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 		$data   = array(
 			'id' => $widget_type['id'],
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
index f2d17186b6..2a154693a1 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ class WP_REST_Widgets_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response Response object.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			// Return early as this handler doesn't add any response headers.
+			return new WP_REST_Response();
+		}
+
 		$this->retrieve_widgets();
 
 		$prepared          = array();
@@ -678,6 +683,12 @@ class WP_REST_Widgets_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		}
 
 		$widget    = $wp_registered_widgets[ $widget_id ];
+		// Don't prepare the response body for HEAD requests.
+		if ( $request->is_method( 'HEAD' ) ) {
+			/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-widgets-controller.php */
+			return apply_filters( 'rest_prepare_widget', new WP_REST_Response(), $widget, $request );
+		}
+
 		$parsed_id = wp_parse_widget_id( $widget_id );
 		$fields    = $this->get_fields_for_response( $request );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 0eb846c57d..494835a94a 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59898';
+$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59899';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.