Introduction
HTTP status codes are three-digit codes returned by a server to indicate the status of a client’s request. These codes play a crucial role in the communication between a client and a server, as they provide information about the success or failure of a request and allow for appropriate responses to be made. In this article, we’ll explore the full list of HTTP status codes and what they mean for your website.
Informational 1xx
The informational 1xx status codes are used to provide interim response to the client before a final response is made. They are not commonly used and only serve a limited number of purposes. The most notable of these status codes is 100 Continue, which is used to indicate that a server has received a request and is continuing to process it.
Successful 2xx
The successful 2xx status codes indicate that a client’s request has been successfully processed by the server. The most commonly used status code in this category is 200 OK, which indicates that the request was successful and the requested content has been returned. Other 2xx status codes include 201 Created, indicating that a new resource has been created, and 204 No Content, indicating that the request was successful but no content is being returned.
Redirection 3xx
The redirection 3xx status codes indicate that further action is needed by the client in order to complete the request. These status codes are used to redirect the client to another URL, such as 301 Moved Permanently, which indicates that the resource has permanently moved to a new URL, or 302 Found, which indicates that the resource has temporarily moved to a new URL.
Client Error 4xx
The client error 4xx status codes indicate that the client has made a request that is invalid or cannot be fulfilled by the server. Common examples include 404 Not Found, indicating that the requested resource could not be found, and 400 Bad Request, indicating that the client’s request was malformed or invalid.
Server Error 5xx
The server error 5xx status codes indicate that there was an error on the server and the client’s request could not be fulfilled. These status codes are typically the result of a server-side issue, such as a 500 Internal Server Error, indicating that there was a server-side error and the request could not be processed.
Conclusion
HTTP status codes play a crucial role in the communication between a client and a server, providing information about the success or failure of a request. Understanding the full list of HTTP status codes is essential for website owners, as it allows them to properly handle server responses and ensure that their website is functioning as intended. Proper use of HTTP status codes can also improve website performance and user experience, as well as enhance the overall security of a website.
