Welcome to this beginner’s guide to understanding HTTP status codes. If you’re diving into the world of web development, online businesses, and digital marketing, you’re about to embark on an exciting journey. A crucial part of this journey is understanding the enigmatic world of HTTP Status Codes. These status codes may seem intimidating at first glance but fear not – in this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down each code from 100 to 511, explaining their meanings and shedding light on how they affect your online presence. Whether you’re an entrepreneur starting an online business or a web enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to navigate the world of HTTP status codes effectively.
Table of Contents
What Are They? Different HTTP Status Codes Explained
HTTP status codes are three-digit numbers that provide information about the response sent by a web server when a browser requests a specific page or resource. They are part of the HTTP protocol, the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web. The official registry of HTTP status codes is upheld and managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). These codes serve as a way for the server to communicate with the client (usually a web browser) regarding the outcome of the requested action. Each status code indicates a distinct scenario, and understanding them can help you troubleshoot issues, enhance user experience, and optimise your website for better performance.
A Complete List of HTTP Status Codes
HTTP status codes are categorised into five classes: informational, success, redirection, client error, and server error. Let’s explore each class in detail, understanding the significance of each code along the way.
1xx Informational Status Codes
- 100 Continue: This code means the server has received the initial part of the request and will proceed with the client’s request if the server approves.
- 101 Switching Protocols: When you encounter this code, it indicates that the server is changing protocols as requested by the client.
- 102 Processing: The server is still processing the request, but the client can continue with its own processing.
- 103 Early Hints: This code is like a friendly nod from the server, indicating that it’s about to send a final response.
2xx Success Status Codes
- 200 OK: Ah, the familiar green light! This code indicates that the request was successful, and the server has fulfilled the client’s request.
- 201 Created: Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a new resource, and this code tells the client all about it.
- 202 Accepted: The server has accepted the request and may process it later.
- 203 Non-Authoritative Information: While a bit uncommon, this code tells the client that the returned meta-information comes from a third-party source.
- 204 No Content: Your request was successful, but there’s no additional information to send back.
- 205 Reset Content: The server asks the client to reset the document view, making it a useful tool for forms.
- 206 Partial Content: When you’re dealing with partial content, this code indicates that the server is returning only part of the requested resource.
- 207 Multi-Status: This code indicates multiple status codes in a single response, making it helpful for multiple resources’ interactions.
- 208 Already Reported: The members of your team have already reported back, indicating that the members have completed their tasks.
- 226 IM Used: This code means the server has fulfilled a GET request for the resource, and the response is a representation of the result of one or more instance-manipulations applied to the current instance.
3xx Redirection Status Codes
- 300 Multiple Choices: Choices are great! This code means the server has multiple choices for the resource that the client can pick from.
- 301 Moved Permanently: You’ve moved, and this code helps the client find your new location.
- 302 Found: Similar to the 301 code, this one indicates that the resource has been temporarily moved to a different location.
- 303 See Other: The requested resource can be found under a different URI, and this code lets the client know where to find it.
- 304 Not Modified: Don’t worry; nothing’s changed. This code indicates that the client’s cached version is still valid.
- 305 Use Proxy: The requested resource must be accessed through the proxy mentioned in the Location header.
- 307 Temporary Redirect: The resource is temporarily at a different location, and the client should follow the redirection.
- 308 Permanent Redirect: Similar to the 301 code, this one indicates that the resource has been permanently moved to a different location.
4xx Client Error Status Codes
- 400 Bad Request: Uh-oh, the server couldn’t understand your request. This code is a polite way of saying “try again.”
- 401 Unauthorised: You need to log in or provide proper authentication to access this resource.
- 402 Payment Required: While not commonly used, this code suggests that payment is required to access the resource.
- 403 Forbidden: Sorry, but you’re not allowed to access this resource. Permissions issue, perhaps?
- 404 Not Found: The infamous 404 error. The requested resource couldn’t be found on the server.
- 405 Method Not Allowed: You’re knocking on the wrong door! The HTTP method you used is not supported for this resource.
- 406 Not Acceptable: The server can’t generate a response matching the list of acceptable values defined in the request’s headers.
- 407 Proxy Authentication Required: The client needs to authenticate itself to a proxy before making a request to the server.
- 408 Request Timeout: Your request took too long to process, so the server gave up.
- 409 Conflict: There’s a conflict with the current state of the resource. Time for some resolution!
- 410 Gone: This resource used to exist, but it’s gone now. Time to update those links!
- 411 Length Required: The server needs to know the length of the content you’re sending.
- 412 Precondition Failed: The server didn’t meet the preconditions specified in the client’s request.
- 413 Payload Too Large: Your request is too hefty for the server to handle.
- 414 URI Too Long: The URI provided is just too darn long for the server to process.
- 415 Unsupported Media Type: The server doesn’t support the media type requested by the client.
- 416 Range Not Satisfiable: The client asked for a part of the file that doesn’t exist.
- 417 Expectation Failed: The server can’t meet the requirements specified in the Expect request header.
- 418 I’m a teapot: A whimsical one! This code indicates that the server is a teapot and cannot brew coffee (or perform the request).
- 421 Misdirected Request: The request was directed at a server that is not able to produce a response.
- 422 Unprocessable Entity: The server understands the request, but it can’t process it due to semantic errors.
- 423 Locked: The requested resource is locked and currently not available.
- 424 Failed Dependency: The request failed because it depended on another request that failed.
- 425 Too Early: The server is unwilling to risk processing a request that might be replayed.
- 426 Upgrade Required: The client should switch to a different protocol, indicated by the Upgrade header.
- 428 Precondition Required: The server requires the request to be conditional.
- 429 Too Many Requests: Slow down! The client has sent too many requests in a given amount of time.
- 431 Request Header Fields Too Large: The server refused to process the request because the request header fields are too large.
- 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons: The server has received a legal demand to deny access to the resource.
5xx Server Error Status Codes
- 500 Internal Server Error: The server encountered an error it doesn’t know how to handle.
- 501 Not Implemented: The server doesn’t have the functionality to fulfil the request.
- 502 Bad Gateway: The server, while acting as a gateway or proxy, received an invalid response from the upstream server.
- 503 Service Unavailable: The server is not ready to handle the request, usually due to maintenance or high load.
- 504 Gateway Timeout: The server, acting as a gateway or proxy, did not receive a timely response from the upstream server.
- 505 HTTP Version Not Supported: The server doesn’t support the HTTP protocol version used in the request.
- 506 Variant Also Negotiates: Transparent content negotiation for the request results in a circular reference.
- 507 Insufficient Storage: The server is unable to store the representation needed to complete the request.
- 508 Loop Detected: The server detected an infinite loop while processing the request.
- 510 Not Extended: Further extensions to the request are required for the server to fulfil it.
- 511 Network Authentication Required: The client needs to authenticate to gain network access.
FAQ for HTTP Status Codes
What is a response code?
A response code is another name for a status code. Response status codes are three-digit numbers that are returned by a server in an HTTP response to indicate the outcome of the client’s HTTP request.
What is an HTTP header?
An HTTP header is a part of an HTTP request or response that contains additional information about the request or response. It can include information such as the content type, caching instructions, and authentication credentials.
In Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve just completed a whirlwind tour of HTTP status codes, from the informational codes to the client and server errors. Armed with this knowledge, you’re better equipped to navigate the digital landscape, troubleshoot issues, and enhance user experience. Remember, a deep understanding of HTTP status codes is essential for anyone involved in web design, development, or digital marketing. And if you’re looking for reliable web hosting and domain registration to support your online endeavours, check out MCloud9. With our expertise and commitment to providing top-notch services, MCloud9 is the perfect partner for your web-related needs.
