HTTP Status Codes
Complete reference for HTTP status codes with detailed explanations and examples
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The server has received the request headers and the client should proceed to send the request body.
Examples:
- Uploading large files in chunks
Notes:
- Rarely used directly in modern web applications
Switching Protocols
The server agrees to switch protocols as requested by the client.
Examples:
- Upgrading from HTTP/1.1 to WebSocket
Notes:
- Commonly used in WebSocket handshake
OK
The request has succeeded. The response payload depends on the request method.
Examples:
- Successful GET request
- API endpoint returning data
Notes:
- Most common success status code
Created
The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result.
Examples:
- POST request creating a new user
- File upload completion
Notes:
- Should include Location header with URL of new resource
No Content
The server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content.
Examples:
- DELETE operation completion
- PUT request with no response needed
Notes:
- Commonly used for DELETE operations
Moved Permanently
The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL.
Examples:
- Website migration
- Domain change
Notes:
- Search engines update their links
- Maintains SEO value
Found (Temporary Redirect)
The requested resource temporarily resides under a different URL.
Examples:
- Temporary maintenance page
- A/B testing
Notes:
- Not cached by browsers
- Original URL should be used for future requests
Bad Request
The server cannot process the request due to client error (malformed syntax, invalid request message framing, or deceptive request routing).
Examples:
- Invalid JSON format
- Missing required fields
Notes:
- Client should modify request before retrying
Unauthorized
Authentication is required and has failed or has not been provided.
Examples:
- Missing authentication token
- Invalid credentials
Notes:
- Should include WWW-Authenticate header
Forbidden
The server understood the request but refuses to authorize it.
Examples:
- Accessing admin area without permissions
- IP-blocked requests
Notes:
- Different from 401 - server knows client identity
Not Found
The requested resource could not be found on the server.
Examples:
- Broken links
- Deleted content
Notes:
- Most common error status code
Too Many Requests
The user has sent too many requests in a given amount of time.
Examples:
- Rate limiting
- API throttling
Notes:
- Should include Retry-After header
Internal Server Error
A generic error message when an unexpected condition was encountered.
Examples:
- Unhandled exceptions
- Database connection failures
Notes:
- Should be avoided through proper error handling
Bad Gateway
The server received an invalid response from the upstream server.
Examples:
- Proxy server issues
- Service mesh failures
Notes:
- Common in microservice architectures
Service Unavailable
The server is temporarily unable to handle the request due to being overloaded or down for maintenance.
Examples:
- Server maintenance
- Traffic overload
Notes:
- Should include Retry-After header if known
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