What are HTTP Response Status Codes?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the fundamental element of any type of online communication. To respond to a client request, the server sends An HTTP response status code and other information in the form of a response object, letting the client know if the request was successful. These three-digit numerical status codes convey important details about the request’s success, failure, or other cases.

HTTP response status codes categories:

HTTP response status codes are vastly divided into five categories:

1xx: Informational Responses

These codes range from 100–199 and indicate that the request was received and the server is continuing to process it.

2xx: Successful Responses

These codes range from 200–299 and indicate that the server successfully received, understood, and accepted the request.

3xx: Redirects

These codes range from 300–399 and indicate the need for subsequent actions to complete the request. They are generally used to indicate that the requested resource has been relocated or is momentarily unavailable.

4xx: Client Errors

These codes range from 400–499 and indicate a mistake from the client while sending the request, hence, the server cannot or will not process the request.

5xx: Server Errors

These codes range from 500–599 and indicate issues at the server side while fulfilling a valid request. These codes also imply that the server is aware of the error.

Importance of HTTP response status codes:

HTTP response status codes are like signals that facilitate smooth communication between web browsers (clients) and web servers. They act like status indicators, providing valuable information about how a request is going. This is helpful for developers and website administrators because they can quickly identify and troubleshoot issues. Understanding these codes also enables them to create robust web applications that can gracefully handle errors and provide users meaningful feedback whenever something goes wrong.