HTTP status codes are standardized response messages returned by web servers when a client sends a request. They indicate whether a request was processed successfully, redirected, rejected, or failed due to server problems.
Each HTTP response includes a numeric status code that helps developers, browsers, and automated systems understand how the server handled the request.
HTTP status codes are grouped into five categories based on their first digit.
HTTP status codes play a critical role in how web applications, browsers, APIs, and search engines interpret responses.
Developers rely on these codes to diagnose problems, implement error handling, and design reliable systems that communicate clearly with clients.