Ever stumbled upon a “404 Not Found” message or heard about a “500 Internal Server Error” and wondered what’s actually going on? These are HTTP status codes, little signals that servers use to communicate with browsers and let us know the status of a request. Some codes let us know things are running smoothly while others hint at issues that may need fixing. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common HTTP status codes in a simple and friendly way, and we’ll show how tools like Dotcom-Monitor can help keep your site running smoothly.
Decoding HTTP Status Codes: The Basics
It’s helpful to know the main categories of HTTP status codes to make sense of what’s happening. Each code starts with a number that reveals its general purpose:
- 1xx Informational: These codes are a server’s way of saying, “Hold on, still processing!” They’re rare, mostly used to signal that the server received your request and you can keep going.
- 2xx Success: A 2xx code is like a thumbs-up from the server, confirming that it received, understood, and processed the request just fine. The famous 200 OK means everything’s a go!
- 3xx Redirection: Think of the 3xx codes as “directions” for users. The server’s saying, “This page is now located elsewhere,” like a polite way of sending you to the right place.
- 4xx Client Errors: These codes mean the server couldn’t complete the request because of something on the user’s end (like a typo or wrong URL). You’ll recognize the classic 404 Not Found in this category.
- 5xx Server: Errors Codes in the 5xx range tell us that the server has run into a problem. Even though the request was valid, something broke down on the server side.
See the Dotcom-Monitor’s wiki for a full list of HTTP status codes.
Common HTTP Status Codes
- 200 OK – Everything’s working as it should! This code means the server found the page and responded successfully. It’s what you want to see most of the time.
- 301 Moved Permanently – This means a page has been permanently moved to a new location. For instance, if a URL has changed, this code sends users (and search engines) to the new address.
- 302 Found (Temporary Redirect) – Unlike a 301, this redirect is temporary. It’s commonly used during promotions when sites need to direct visitors to a specific page temporarily.
- 400 Bad Request – The server couldn’t understand the request because of bad syntax, usually due to a typo or incorrect URL. It’s a gentle nudge to check and correct the request.
- 401 Unauthorized – This code means a user needs to log in or authenticate to access the page. It often appears on login pages or restricted sections of a website.
- 403 Forbidden – A 403 says the server understood the request but won’t fulfill it, typically due to a lack of permissions.
- 404 Not Found – This one’s famous. 404 means the server couldn’t find the page requested. This can happen if a URL is incorrect or the page has been moved or deleted.
- 500 Internal Server Error – A 500 error tells you that something unexpected happened on the server. This can be due to various reasons like high traffic or code issues.
- 502 Bad Gateway – This happens when one server, acting as a gateway or proxy, receives a faulty response from an upstream server. It often indicates an issue with the main server.
- 503 Service Unavailable – This code shows the server is temporarily unable to handle the request. It might be down for maintenance or experiencing high traffic but should be back soon.
How Dotcom-Monitor Can Help You Avoid Downtime and Customer Frustration
Running into HTTP errors like 404 or 500 can be frustrating for users and they might not come back if these issues keep popping up. This is where Dotcom-Monitor’s HTTP/S Web Monitoring can make a big difference. By catching these issues early, Dotcom-Monitor helps you keep your site running smoothly so you can minimize downtime and keep visitors happy.
Here’s how Dotcom-Monitor can help:
- 24/7 Monitoring: Dotcom-Monitor keeps an eye on your website day and night, so you’re notified instantly if something goes wrong.
- Real Browser Testing: This feature shows you exactly what users see which lets you experience your website from their perspective.
- Global Reach: With monitoring nodes worldwide, Dotcom-Monitor helps ensure your site performs well for users no matter where they are.
- Custom Alerts: Get real-time notifications when issues arise so you can fix them before they affect too many visitors.
With Dotcom-Monitor, you get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your site is always being watched which reduces the chance of frustrating errors and keeping your users happy.
