Definition – HTTP status codes
HTTP status codes are standard response codes given by web servers on the internet. They communicate the status of a web request made by a client to the server. Each status code is a three-digit number, and each code has a specific meaning, indicating success, redirection, client error, or server error. Here’s a detailed explanation of HTTP status codes:
1. Informational Responses (1xx):
- 100 Continue: The server has received the initial part of the request and will continue to process it.
- 101 Switching Protocols: The server is switching protocols according to the client’s request.
2. Successful Responses (2xx):
- 200 OK: The request was successful, and the server has returned the requested content.
- 201 Created: The request was successful, and a new resource has been created on the server.
- 202 Accepted: The request has been accepted for processing, but the processing has not been completed.
- 204 No Content: The server has successfully processed the request but is not returning any content.
3. Redirection Messages (3xx):
- 300 Multiple Choices: The requested resource has multiple representations, each with its own specific location.
- 301 Moved Permanently: The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new location.
- 302 Found (Moved Temporarily): The requested resource has been temporarily moved to a different location.
- 304 Not Modified: The resource has not been modified since the last request, and the server does not need to send the content again.
4. Client Error Responses (4xx):
- 400 Bad Request: The server cannot process the request due to a client error, such as malformed syntax or invalid parameters.
- 401 Unauthorized: The request requires authentication, and the client must provide valid credentials.
- 403 Forbidden: The server understood the request but refuses to fulfill it due to authorization reasons.
- 404 Not Found: The requested resource could not be found on the server.
5. Server Error Responses (5xx):
- 500 Internal Server Error: The server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.
- 501 Not Implemented: The server does not support the functionality required to fulfill the request.
- 503 Service Unavailable: The server is currently unable to handle the request due to temporary overload or maintenance.
- 504 Gateway Timeout: The server, acting as a gateway or proxy, did not receive a timely response from the upstream server.
Usage of HTTP status codes
- Debugging: HTTP status codes help developers debug issues with web applications or APIs by providing insights into the server’s response.
- Error Handling: Clients can handle different status codes appropriately, such as displaying error messages for 4xx errors or retrying requests for 5xx errors.
- Redirects: Redirection status codes (3xx) inform clients to fetch a resource from a different location, such as when a web page has moved permanently.
Summary
HTTP status codes are standardized responses given by web servers to indicate the outcome of a client’s request. These codes are grouped into five categories:
- 1xx (Informational): These codes indicate that the request has been received and is being processed. For example, 100 Continue signals that the initial part of the request has been received and the client can continue with the rest.
- 2xx (Success): These codes mean the request was successfully received, understood, and processed. 200 OK is the most common, indicating that the request succeeded. 201 Created signifies that a new resource was successfully created.
- 3xx (Redirection): These codes indicate that further action is needed to complete the request. 301 Moved Permanently means the resource has been permanently moved to a new URL. 302 Found indicates a temporary redirection.
- 4xx (Client Error): These codes signify errors made by the client. 400 Bad Request means the server could not understand the request due to invalid syntax. 404 Not Found indicates the requested resource could not be found.
- 5xx (Server Error): These codes indicate that the server failed to fulfill a valid request. 500 Internal Server Error signals an unexpected server condition that prevented the request from being fulfilled. 503 Service Unavailable means the server is temporarily unable to handle the request due to overload or maintenance.
These status codes provide essential information for debugging and ensuring effective communication between clients and servers.
Useful Links
- https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2616
- https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2616
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