HTTP status codes are the digital “language” between servers and browsers. They tell you whether a page loaded successfully, redirected, or failed. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common HTTP status codes—from 200 to 500—and explain what they mean for SEO, user experience, and website troubleshooting.

 

Introduction: Why HTTP Status Codes Matter

 
Whenever you visit a website, your browser sends a request and the server responds with a code. These codes—known as HTTP status codes—tell you what happened.
 
For developers, SEOs, and business owners, understanding status codes is crucial because they impact:
 

• SEO rankings (Google reacts differently to 301 vs 404).
• User experience (broken links cause frustration).
• Troubleshooting (server errors can cost sales).

 

Categories of HTTP Status Codes

 

1xx – Informational

 

• 100 Continue → Server received the request, client should continue.

2xx – Success

 

• 200 OK → Everything works fine (most common).
• 204 No Content → Request succeeded, no content returned.

3xx – Redirection

 

• 301 Moved Permanently → Best for SEO when redirecting.
• 302 Found → Temporary redirect.
• 304 Not Modified → Cached version is fine.

4xx – Client Errors

 

• 400 Bad Request → Malformed request.
• 401 Unauthorized → Authentication required.
• 403 Forbidden → Access denied.
• 404 Not Found → Page doesn’t exist (common SEO issue).

5xx – Server Errors

 

• 500 Internal Server Error → General server failure.
• 502 Bad Gateway → Proxy or gateway issue.
• 503 Service Unavailable → Server overloaded or under maintenance.
• 504 Gateway Timeout → Upstream server didn’t respond in time.

 

Why Status Codes Matter for SEO

 

• 301 Redirects → Preserve link juice and authority.
• 302 Redirects → Shouldn’t be used permanently.
• 404 Errors → Harm SEO if too many exist.
• 500 Errors → Can cause Google to deindex pages.

 

How to Check HTTP Status Codes

 

Method 1: Online Tools (Beginner-Friendly )

 
Use the Divertidus Redirect Checker or HTTP Headers Analyzer:
 

1. Enter your URL.
2. See the HTTP status returned instantly.

Method 2: Browser DevTools

 

• Chrome → Inspect → Network tab → Check status column.

Method 3: Command Line

 

curl -I https://example.com

 

Common Mistakes with Status Codes

 

1. Using 302 instead of 301 for permanent changes.
2. Having thousands of 404 errors from broken links.
3. Not fixing 500 errors quickly.
4. Redirecting everything to the homepage (bad SEO).

 

Best Practices

 

• Always use 301 for permanent moves.
• Regularly audit for 404 errors.
• Monitor server uptime to prevent 5xx errors.
• Use caching headers (304) wisely for performance.

 

FAQs

 
Q: Does Google penalize 404 errors?
A: Not directly, but too many can reduce crawl efficiency and harm UX.

Q: Are 500 errors bad for SEO?
A: Yes—persistent 5xx errors can cause deindexing.

Q: Should I worry about 302 redirects?
A: Yes—replace with 301 if the move is permanent.
 
 

Conclusion

 
HTTP status codes are the hidden messages that shape how websites perform and rank. By understanding them, you can troubleshoot issues, optimize SEO, and improve user experience.
 
 Test your site now with the free Divertidus Redirect Checker
and HTTP Headers Analyzer.