HTTP Status Codes and Their Meanings

Today, the internet hosts billions of websites and millions of visitors. In this vast digital world, websites are used by visitors to obtain information, conduct research, or purchase a product. Therefore, the operation of a website and the communication it establishes with its visitors must be clear and organized. To ensure this communication, a specific language must be used. One of the protocols that provides this language is the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) protocol.

HTTP is a protocol that facilitates communication between web browsers and web servers. This protocol determines how a server responds when a web browser requests a web page from it. These responses are usually conveyed through codes known as HTTP status codes.

HTTP status codes indicate how a web server processes a request and what the result of the request is. These status codes are generally expressed as three-digit numbers, with each number representing a specific condition. For example, the code 200 represents a successful request, while 404 represents a page that cannot be found.

The most commonly used HTTP status codes for websites are:

200: Represents a successful request.
404: Represents a page not found.
500: Indicates a server error.

HTTP status codes make communication between websites and visitors more understandable and systematic. This way, users better understand the results of their requests and can take the correct steps to resolve issues when necessary.

What Are HTTP Status Codes?

When we visit a website, a two-way communication takes place between the browser and the server. The browser sends our request to the server to display a specific web page. The server receives and processes this request. The server responds to the processed request with a three-digit status code. These codes are called HTTP status codes.

HTTP status codes generally consist of three-digit numbers, and each number represents a specific condition. For example, the code 200 represents a successful request, while the code 404 indicates a page that cannot be found. These codes inform web browsers how the server handled the request and what the result of the request was.

Status codes do not only indicate errors; they can also signal that a page has loaded correctly. For instance, the code 200 indicates that the page has successfully loaded, while the code 404 indicates that the page was not found.

HTTP status codes show web browsers how the server responded. This allows users to better understand the outcomes of their requests and take the right steps to resolve any issues when necessary.

Why Are HTTP Status Codes Important?

HTTP status codes are definitely critical for websites. These codes affect both the technical operation of the site and the user experience.

A website that loads quickly and smoothly, responds promptly, and returns the correct status codes enables users to have a more positive experience. When users can access the content they want quickly and without issues, they are more satisfied and more likely to revisit your site.

On the other hand, if a website responds slowly to commands or consistently returns error codes, the user experience is negatively impacted. Users encountering such problems may find it difficult to trust the site and tend to switch to other websites.

HTTP status codes also affect your site’s SEO performance. Search engine bots consider response times and status codes while crawling your site. For example, a site that frequently returns 5xx (server error) status codes may lose the trust of search engine bots and drop in search rankings. Similarly, pages with 404 (page not found) errors are negatively evaluated by search engines and may not be indexed.

HTTP Status Code Classes

HTTP status codes are codes used in communication between web servers and browsers, representing specific events. These codes are usually composed of three-digit numbers. The first digit indicates the general category of the status code, while the other two digits provide more specific details about the status.

HTTP status codes are divided into five different classes, each representing a certain type of event:

1xx (Informational): The request has been received and is being processed.
2xx (Successful): The request was successfully processed and completed.
3xx (Redirection): Further action is required to complete the request.
4xx (Client Error): The request was invalid or could not be processed by the server.
5xx (Server Error): The server failed to fulfill a valid request.

Some of the most commonly encountered HTTP status codes are:

200 (OK): The request was successfully processed, and the requested content was returned.
301 (Moved Permanently): The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new location.
404 (Not Found): The requested resource could not be found on the server.
500 (Internal Server Error): An error occurred on the server, and the request could not be processed.
503 (Service Unavailable): The server is currently unable to handle the request due to overload or maintenance.

These status codes are important for website owners and developers because they affect site performance and user experience. When managed correctly, users have a smooth experience, and the site’s SEO performance is positively impacted.

How to Check HTTP Status Codes and Errors?

For a website to be successful and improve user experience, it is important to use HTTP status codes correctly. These status codes are used in communication between web servers and browsers and represent specific events. For example, the status code 200 indicates that a request was successfully processed and the requested content was returned, while the status code 404 shows that the requested resource could not be found on the server.

HTTP status codes are generally divided into five different classes, each representing a certain type of event. These are informational, successful, redirection, client error, and server error classes. For instance, 1xx codes indicate that the request has been received and is being processed; 2xx codes mean the process was successfully completed; and 3xx codes imply that further action is required to complete the request.

Websites should use the correct HTTP status codes to positively impact user experience. Additionally, effectively managing error codes is also important. For example, customizing pages that return 404 error codes and providing clear and understandable error messages are crucial for users. Furthermore, ensuring the website responds quickly and improving server performance also enhance user experience and reduce bounce rates.

Using the right HTTP status codes and managing errors effectively is vital for the success of a website. These steps positively affect user experience and SEO performance. Since every website is different, these guidelines should be adapted according to the site’s needs and goals.