If you have ever searched the internet, you might have encountered HTTP status codes. So, those three-digit numbers may look random at first, but they’re essential to understanding how the web functions. Well fret not (if that’s a thing), because in this article we’re going to take a look into the world of HTTP status codes and what each of these mean.

HTTP status codes are 3-digit numbers sent back by a web server in response to a browser request. These codes tell what happened as a result of the request, and it forms the basis for both users and developers to know the status of a website. There are 5 different classes of HTTP status codes, each has a set of codes for a particular response.

HTTP status codes are essential troubleshooting tools for diagnosing website issues and enhance user experience. These codes enable the developers to Readily detect any kind of errors that might occur while browsing. For users, status codes can help them understand why a webpage is not loading properly or why a certain action cannot be completed.

Anyone who works with websites or web applications need to be able to decode HTTP status codes. By familiarizing yourself with these codes, you can gain a better understanding of web nuances and implement a smoother online experience for both yourself and your users.

These codes tell us that the server has got the request and is working on it. They are mainly utilized for regulating communication between the client and server in request-response cycles. This kind of code is such as:

100 Continue: This is a kind of confirmation from the server that the initial request has been successfully accepted, you can continue the actions that you have started (for example, scanning).

101 Switching Protocols: This status code is used to inform the client that the server is changing the protocol that is being used in the connection.

102 Processing: The request is received by the server, and at this stage it goes through the processing procedure. This does not mean that the process is about to end, but you should not disconnect.

These codes indicate that the client’s request was successfully received, understood, and processed by the server. Some of the most common 200 responses are:

200 OK: The request was received by the server, and at this stage it passes the most important code that characterizes the state of all pages of the site open for scanning. In other words, this code should contain all the URLs that should be indexed and shown in the output. 200 OK means that the server received the request, successfully processed it without any problems.

201 Created: The request was received by the server, and at this stage it passes the most important code that characterizes the state of all pages of the site open for scanning. In other words, this code should contain all the URLs that should be indexed and shown in the output. 200 OK means that the server received the request, successfully processed it without any problems.

204 No Content: The received request has been successfully processed, several actions have been taken in the process.

These codes indicate that the client needs to take additional actions to fulfill the request. They are often used when the requested resource has moved to a different location. Some examples include:

300 Multiple: Choices appears when the request is directed to an address that refers to several pages (documents), in this case it is impossible to determine which one should be used.

301 Moved Permanently: The requested page has moved to a new url .

302 Found / Moved Temporarily: Given to pages that were moved to another address, but only for a while, and in the future they are planned to return to their original place. The code tells the search engine bots that the page itself should remain in the index, the transfer is temporary.

304 Not Modified: Saves resources for rescanning a document or page that has not been modified since the previous scan process. Pages with such code are involved in the index, but they use data obtained during the previous scan.

These codes indicate that there was an issue with the client’s request, such as a mistyped URL or invalid credentials. The most common 4xx responses include:

400 Bad Request: The server reports a syntax error in the request.

401 Unauthorized: It you want to have access to this page (document) you need to enter a password or go through registration and try again after authorization.

403 Forbidden: Denies access to the document. Often appears if entry from a specific IP is denied.

404 Not Found: It appears if the document or page was not found at the time of the request, as well as in case of an error in the spelling of the address.

410 Gone: It informs the user that he requested a remote page (document). The code 410 means that the document existed before, but is now permanently deleted.

These codes, which indicate that the server encountered an error while trying to fulfill the client’s request, include:

500 Internal Server Error: It request was not completed. The server met an unexpected condition.

502 Bad Gateway: It reports temporary shortcomings from the server that are technical in nature, for example, about excessive workload due to exceeding the allowable number of requests.

503 Service Unavailable: It reports temporary shortcomings from the server that are technical in nature, for example, about excessive workload due to exceeding the allowable number of requests.

504 Gateway Timeout: Code means that the waiting time for a response from the upstream server has expired, to which the main server sends the request, which in this case is a proxy server or gateway.

505 HTTP Version Not Supported: The server received a denial of response to the request due to the use of a different version of the HTTP protocol.

HTTP status codes are the quiet announcers of the web, revealing much about the status of any particular request. Whether you are a developer, you own a site, or you are browsing the web in some capacity, these codes can allow you to interpret and sift through the vastness that is the Internet with ease.