What are HTTP Status Codes?
HTTP status codes refer to the three-digit responses communicated from the server to the browser-side request. A 404 page-not-found error is a common occurrence that most people must have encountered. It is an HTTP client error status code, and there are many others like it.
These status codes (or response status codes) act as a communication medium between the server and the internet browser. Based on the kind of information conveyed, the codes can be classified into multiple code classes. This classification is made based on the first digit of the error code. For example, similar to a 404, any other 4xx error would imply that the page could not be reached in some way or the other. However, unlike a 4xx, a 2xx would mean something different. It would mean that the request has been successfully processed and completed.
How can HTTP Status Codes be Categorized?
HTTP status codes have been categorized into 5 different types. You don't have to know the specifics to recognize the response; each category will offer hints as to what it implies. We have provided the complete list of HTTP status codes below.
Informational
The server has successfully received the request and is continuing the process.
Successful
The request has been processed successfully, and the browser has received the information.
Redirection
The request has been redirected and will need further action to be completed.
Client Error
The website or the page cannot be reached. The page could be unavailable, or the request includes bad syntax.
Server Error
Although the request was valid, the server couldn't process it.
The Complete List of HTTP Status Codes
| Status Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 100 | Continue |
| 101 | Switching Protocols |
| 102 | Processing |
| 103 | Early Hints |
| 200 | OK |
| 201 | Created |
| 202 | Accepted |
| 203 | Non-Authoritative Information |
| 204 | No Content |
| 205 | Reset Content |
| 206 | Partial Content |
| 207 | Multi-Status |
| 208 | Already Reported |
| 226 | IM Used |
| 300 | Multiple Choices |
| 301 | Moved Permanently |
| 302 | Found (Previously "Moved Temporarily") |
| 303 | See Other |
| 304 | Not Modified |
| 305 | Use Proxy |
| 306 | Switch Proxy |
| 307 | Temporary Redirect |
| 308 | Permanent Redirect |
| 400 | Bad Request |
| 401 | Unauthorized |
| 402 | Payment Required |
| 403 | Forbidden |
| 404 | Not Found |
| 405 | Method Not Allowed |
| 406 | Not Acceptable |
| 407 | Proxy Authentication Required |
| 408 | Request Timeout |
| 409 | Conflict |
| 410 | Gone |
| 411 | Length Required |
| 412 | Precondition Failed |
| 413 | Payload Too Large |
| 414 | URI Too Long |
| 415 | Unsupported Media Type |
| 416 | Range Not Satisfiable |
| 417 | Expectation Failed |
| 418 | I'm a Teapot |
| 421 | Misdirected Request |
| 422 | Unprocessable Entity |
| 423 | Locked |
| 424 | Failed Dependency |
| 425 | Too Early |
| 426 | Upgrade Required |
| 428 | Precondition Required |
| 429 | Too Many Requests |
| 431 | Request Header Fields Too Large |
| 451 | Unavailable For Legal Reasons |
| 500 | Internal Server Error |
| 501 | Not Implemented |
| 502 | Bad Gateway |
| 503 | Service Unavailable |
| 504 | Gateway Timeout |
| 505 | HTTP Version Not Supported |
| 506 | Variant Also Negotiates |
| 507 | Insufficient Storage |
| 508 | Loop Detected |
| 510 | Not Extended |
| 511 | Network Authentication Required |
HTTP Status Codes Detailed Individually
Sometimes, messages that an HTTP code tries to convey can be understood directly. For example, a 200 OK status code would probably mean that the process was successful. However, deciphering other codes, such as the 103 Early Hints, the 205 Reset Content, or the 305 Use Proxy, can be tricky.
Given below are brief descriptions of all 63 status codes, separated and classified into a total of 5 categories:
What does a 1xx informational status code imply?
A 1xx information status code implies that the server has successfully received the request and is processing it. It is purely temporary and is given while the request is being processed. You won't come across 1xx codes much because they are part of the process and not the end result.
What does a 100 Continue status code imply?
A 100 Continue conveys the receipt of the initial part of the request by the server. The client can now continue with the request or ignore the response if the request has already been completed.
What does a 101 Switching Protocols status code imply?
The 101 Switching Protocols code implies that the server understands and is willing to comply with the client's request, via the Upgrade message header field, to switch protocols.
What does a 102 Processing status code imply?
The 102 Processing code implies that the request has been accepted by the server but is still undergoing processing. Hence, no response has been released as of yet.
What does a 103 Early Hints status code imply?
The 103 Early Hints status code allows the user agent to preload resources as the server processes and prepares a response.
What does a successful 2xx status code mean?
A 2xx Successful code implies that the request was successful and the browser has received the expected information. This is generally the expected code, as it conveys the positive message that the request was a success and has been understood, accepted, and received by the server. As a website owner, you must ensure that all pages and resources, such as images, videos, etc., return a 2xx status code. This essentially means that the browsers can reach it successfully and that your website functions efficiently, providing users with the resources it contains.
What does a 200 OK status code mean?
As the name suggests, the status code 200 OK conveys that the request was successful. However, the success reason varies based on the type of request method used:
- GET: The requested resource has been retrieved and transmitted to the message body.
- HEAD: The requested resource sends in the headers without the message body.
- POST or PUT: An overview of the action's result is transmitted to the message body.
- TRACE: The message body will include the request messages as received by the server.
For an SEO professional, the 200 OK response code must be the most anticipated one since it implies that all the linked pages are functioning properly. This would mean that the search engine crawlers can now successfully crawl the page and add it to their search index.
What does a 201 Created status code mean?
The 201 Created status code implies that the request was successfully completed, resulting in the possible creation of multiple new resources.
What does a 202 Accepted status code mean?
The 202 Accepted code conveys that the request is under processing and the processing hasn't finished yet. The request may or may not be completed once the processing finally happens.
What does a 203 Non-Authoritative Information status code mean?
The 203 Non-Authoritative code implies that the request was successful, but the meta-information received is not the same as the one present on the original server. Instead, it has been collected from a 3rd party or a local copy. However, if the resource is not used as a backup or a copy, a 200 OK is preferred.
What does a 204 No Content status code mean?
The 204 No Content status code means that although the server has completed the request, the content for this request is unavailable. However, the user agent may want to replace the current, cached headers with the new ones.
What does a 205 Reset Content status code mean?
The 205 Reset status code means that the document that initiated this request must be reset.
What does a 206 Partial Content status code mean?
The 206 Partial Content status code is basically a response to the Range header that the client had sent when they were requesting a part of the resource.
What does a 207 Multi-Status status code mean?
The 207 Multi-Status code appears in situations involving multiple status codes and informs about multiple resources.
What does a 208 Already Reported status code mean?
The 208 Already Reported status code is employed within the response element DAV:propstat to prevent repeatedly iterating over the internal components of multiple bindings to the same collection.
What does a 226 IM Used status code mean?
The 226 IM Used response code implies that the server has completed the GET request for the resource, and the response represents the result of multiple instance manipulations enforced on the current instance.
What does a 3xx Redirection Code mean?
The 3xx Redirection Code implies that the user has been redirected, and further action is required for the success of the request. However, there is nothing to worry about; redirects are a common part of the internet processes. A redirect implies that although the request was processed successfully, the resource was found elsewhere.
Additionally, once a webpage alters its path, the CMS redirects the user to the new path every time they try to visit the webpage through the previous path. It is guaranteed that the request will ultimately end in a 2xx success code, but only after it surpasses the 3xx redirection.
What does a 300 Multiple Choices status code mean?
The 300 Multiple Choices status code implies that the request offers multiple responses, and the users are allowed to choose one from them.
What does a 301 Moved Permanently status code mean?
The 301 Moved Permanently status code implies that a new permanent URL has been assigned to the target resource, and that any one of the URLs included in the response must be used for all future references to this resource.
From an SEO perspective, the 301 Permanent Redirect should be employed every time a URL is moved permanently. This redirect transfers the link equity from the current URL to the new one. The link equity offered by the 301 status code is slightly less than that offered by 200. Hence, it may be difficult to process multiple links through the 301 status code. It is advised to fix any such issues when encountered.
What does a 302 Found (previously known as "Moved temporarily") status code mean?
The 302 Found status code, formerly known as "Moved Temporarily," conveys that the URI of the request has been altered temporarily. The effective URI is used for future prospects, as further changes can be made to the URI.
From an SEO perspective, the 302 Found is primarily used when temporary changes are made, since the link equity offered by 302 is not the same as that offered by 301. However, if the original page is not anticipated to return, then 301 must be used.
What does a 303 See Other status code mean?
The 303 See Other status code directs the client to get the requested resource from another URI using a "GET" request.
What does a 304 Not Modified status code mean?
As the name suggests, the 304 Not Modified response code conveys to the client that the response has not been modified. This essentially means that the user is free to continue using the already available cached version of the response.
What does a 305 Use Proxy status code mean?
The 305 Use Proxy status code suggests that the client connect to the proxy and then retry the request. However, this response code is no longer supported due to security concerns.
What does a 306 Switch Proxy status code mean?
The 306 Switch Proxy status code is not currently operational. However, it was previously utilized to inform the client that the requests that follow must employ the specified proxy.
What does a 307 Temporary Redirect status code mean?
The 307 Temporary Redirect is utilized by the server in order to point the client to the requested resource at another URI. However, it is important that the request method remains unchanged and the same.
What does a 308 Permanent Redirect status code mean?
The 308 Permanent Redirect status code conveys that a new URI has been permanently assigned to the requested resource, and the subsequent references to the resource must be made using the enclosed URIs.
What does a 4xx Client Error mean?
A 4xx Client Error status code indicates that the website or page is unreachable due to the page being unavailable or the request involving a bad syntax. As a website owner, you must be on the lookout for these status codes because these indicate that the users are unable to obtain their desired outcomes, including the pages that are either no longer found or temporarily or permanently lost, causing an eventual loss in your rankings and compromising your SEO efforts.
What does a 400 Bad Request status code mean?
The 400 Bad Request status code implies that, due to invalid syntax, the server could not process the request.
What does a 401 Unauthorized status code mean?
The 401 Unauthorized status code conveys that the request has not been implemented because the server is demanding user authentication.
What does a 402 Payment Required status code mean?
The 402 Payment Required was originally created to be applied in payment systems. However, it is rarely seen in current standard conventions and has been reserved for future use.
What does a 403 Forbidden status code mean?
The 403 Forbidden status code conveys that the client request has been denied because the client does not have the right to access the content. Unlike the 401 error, the server is aware of the client's identity. However, since they are unauthorized to access the content, the server won't reveal a proper response.
What does a 404 Not Found status code mean?
The 404 Not Found status code indicates that either the requested resource is trying to suppress its presence from an unauthorized client or the server was unable to find an accurate representation.
When it comes to SEO purposes, the 301 status code can be used to redirect the 404 Not Found pages that are receiving high volumes of traffic to more relevant pages. However, for some pages, a 404 error code may be apt. For example, external links directing to a 404 error page instead of the requested page or displaying a product that is out of stock will help reduce the link equity that the links would otherwise offer, reducing the traffic the out-of-stock product receives.
What does a 405 Method Not Allowed status code mean?
The 405 Method Not Allowed status code communicates that although the server is aware of the request method, it has been disabled and is no longer functioning.
What does a 406 Not Acceptable status code mean?
The 406 Not Acceptable status code is conveyed by the server when it is unable to find the content that follows the criteria demanded by the user agent.
What does a 407 Proxy Authentication Required status code mean?
Similar to 401, the 407 Proxy Authentication status code states that the client must first be authenticated by a proxy.
What does a 408 Request Timeout status code mean?
The 408 Request Timeout implies that the server was unable to receive a complete request during the time it had stalled waiting for it.
What does a 409 Conflict status code mean?
The 409 Conflict status code means that the request could not be completed because of a conflict with the current state of the target resource. It is used in situations where the user has the option to resubmit the request once the conflict is resolved.
What does a 410 Gone status code mean?
The 410 Gone status code conveys that the target resource has been deleted, and the conditions appear to be permanent.
From an SEO perspective, the 410 Gone code is 404's more permanent version, since the requested page possesses no forwarding address and will remain unavailable on the server. Hence, if your goal is to fully remove a page from the Google Search Index, then 410 would be the code to use. In this situation, a 404 would be much less effective than a 410.
What does a 411 Length Required status code mean?
The 411 Length Required status code conveys that the server has declined the request because it requires the Content-Length header field to be defined properly.
What does a 412 Precondition Failed status code mean?
The 412 Precondition status code conveys that the server has failed to meet one or multiple preconditions that were specified in the requested header fields.
What does a 413 Payload Too Large status code mean?
As the name suggests, the 413 Payload Too Large status code indicates that the request payload is larger than what the server can process, causing it to decline the request.
What does a 414 URI Too Long status code mean?
The 414 URI Too Long status code conveys that the request target is longer than what the server can interpret, causing it to reject servicing the request.
What does a 415 Unsupported Media Type status code mean?
The 415 Unsupported Media Type conveys that the server does not support the requested data's media format and hence, is declining the request.
What does a 416 Range Not Satisfiable status code mean?
The 416 Range Not Satisfiable status code indicates that the range specifications required by the Range header field of the request are not fulfilled because the given range is outside the limits of the target URI's data.
What does a 417 Expectation Failed status code mean?
The 417 Expectation status code indicates that the server cannot meet the Expectation specified by the Expect request-header field.
What does a 418 I'm a Teapot status code mean?
The 418 I'm a Teapot status code indicates that the server is a teapot and it refuses to brew coffee. Moreover, the title "I'm a Teapot" was derived from the 1998 April Fool's joke called "Hyper Text Coffee Pot Control Protocol."
What does a 421 Misdirected Request status code mean?
The 421 Misdirected Request status code conveys that the client request was dispatched to a server that has not been configured to produce responses.
What does a 422 Unprocessable Entity status code mean?
The 422 Unprocessable Entity status code conveys that the server was unable to follow the well-formed request due to semantic errors.
What does a 423 Locked status code mean?
The 423 Locked means that the resource being accessed is locked.
What does a 424 Failed Dependency status code mean?
The 424 Failed Dependency status code conveys that the request had failed because of the failure of the previous request.
What does a 425 Too Early status code mean?
The 425 Too Early status code indicates that the server has decided not to take the risk of processing the request, considering the chances of it being replayed.
What does a 426 Upgrade Required status code mean?
The 426 Upgrade Required indicates that although the server declines to process the request with the current protocol, it may do so once the client upgrades to a different protocol.
What does a 428 Precondition Required status code mean?
The 428 Precondition Required status code conveys that the original server demands the request to be conditional.
What does a 429 Too Many Requests status code mean?
As the name suggests, 429 Too Many Requests suggests that the user has sent too many requests at a time.
What does a 431 Request Header Fields Too Large status code mean?
The 431 Request Header Fields Too Large conveys that the server is unable to process the request because the size of the header fields is larger than the limit. However, the request can be resubmitted once the size is reduced.
What does a 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons status code mean?
As the name suggests, the 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons status code comes up when a user requests illegal resources, such as the pages and sites blocked by the government.
What does a 5xx Server error mean?
A 5xx Server error status conveys that although the request was valid, the server was unable to complete the request. This would mean that the server is the ultimate culprit when it comes to 5xx errors. If you are facing the issue on your own server, you will have to debug it to find the root of the issue. But in case you are using an external provider, you will have to reach out to them so they can look at it.
What does a 500 Internal Server Error status code mean?
The 500 Internal Server Error status code indicates that the server has encountered a situation that it is unable to handle.
From an SEO perspective, although the 500 Internal Server Error code highlights an issue with the server and not the actual accessibility of the content, it will confuse the bots and the users, causing the link equity to reduce rapidly.
What does a 501 Not Implemented status code mean?
The 501 Not Implemented status code implies that the request is not supported by the server, and hence, it cannot be handled.
What does a 502 Bad Gateway status code mean?
The 502 Bad Gateway status code conveys that the server got an invalid response while it was functioning to handle the response while working as a gateway.
What does a 503 Service Unavailable status code mean?
The 503 Service Unavailable response code conveys that the server is unable to handle the request. This usually happens when the server is overloaded or down for maintenance.
From an SEO perspective, the 503 Service Unavailable conveys that the server is currently not available due to server maintenance or overload and suggests the bot/human come back at a later time. Moreover, the search engines are aware of how to return and examine the availability status later.
What does a 504 Gateway Timeout status code mean?
The 504 Gateway Timeout response code conveys that the server functioning as the gateway is unable to receive a response time.
What does a 505 HTTP Version Not Supported status code mean?
The 505 HTTP Version Not Supported response code indicates that the HTTP version utilized in the request is not supported by the server.
What does a 506 Variant Also Negotiates status code mean?
The 506 Variant Also Negotiates a response code indicate that the server contains the following internal configuration error: The selected variant resource is programmed to involve itself in transparent negotiation, making it unable to be an effective endpoint in the negotiation process.
What does a 507 Insufficient Storage status code mean?
The 507 Insufficient Storage status code indicates that the method was not able to function because the resource is unable to store the representation needed to process the request successfully.
What does a 508 Loop Detected status code mean?
The 508 Loop Detected status code indicates that an infinite loop has been identified by the server while processing the request.
What does a 510 Not Extended status code mean?
The 510 Not Extended response code conveys that the server requires further extensions to process the request successfully.
What does a 511 Network Authentication Required status code mean?
The 511 Network Authentication Required status code suggests that the client must authenticate to receive network access.
Are You an SEO Expert? Here are Some HTTP Status Codes You Must Know
Are you an SEO professional who is seeking great results? Well then, technical SEO is your best solution. It ensures that response codes are handled properly on your website. This is done by making sure that your content returns the appropriate response code when requested, and that your website is being properly crawled by the Googlebots.
The following is a list of 5 status codes that are essential for your SEO performance:
200 OK and SEO
This is the dream status code for 99% of your content (pages, media, etc.). This code would indicate that everything is working as it should. The receipt of this code is vital for a well-functioning website and optimal user experience.
Additionally, it confirms that all the external links directing to your website will offer link value. The receipt of a 200 OK for all your content will provide assurance that the website is functioning well and is easily accessible for both crawlers and visitors.
301 Moved Permanently & SEO
In a fantasyland, all your content will remain on the same URL and respond with a 200 OK. However, in the real world, the chances of this happening when managing a website are very low.
In case a page changes its URL, a redirect must be set up in order to send users and bots from the old URL to the new URL. Failing to do so will result in a 404 page. While in some content management systems, automatic redirect is an in-built SEO feature, in others, you may have to set it up manually.
You must use 301 in case the page is permanently gone and will not return. This is followed for pages that have altered their URLs or the ones that possess deleted content.
If a page has been lost, instead of having it simply moved, you can either apply a 404 status code or opt to redirect it to a similar page on your website. For example, a page that features an unavailable product can be redirected to the category page instead.
302 Found & SEO
What if the page has been gone only temporarily, and is expected to return back? In this case, you would neither want it to be categorised as a 404 page or a 301 permanent redirect one.
This is when a 302 Found would come to use in the place of a 301. It may appear to be the same for the user, but since the redirect is temporary, the crawlers and bots will be demanded to check back later on. Additionally, this means that the old URL will retain its value while it is gone.
It must be noted that in case the 302 redirect persists for too long, then Google will categorise it as a 301 permanent redirect instead.
404 Not Found & SEO
A page that is no longer found or unavailable will be labeled as a 404 page. The server further conveys to the users, crawlers, and bots that the page they were searching for is not found.
SEO professionals must look out for these 404 pages, for they can hurt your SEO rankings if not monitored and fixed.
First of all, a page that displays a 404 error will be removed from Google's search listings. Unless it is fixed, the page will be removed eventually, in a short period of time, even if not done instantly. This makes it all the more important to fix pages that display 404 but are the ones that bring in a lot of organic traffic.
Second, all the links to the page will lose the value they used to add to your website. This will hurt your SEO performance, since the page is not receiving any organic traffic anymore.
The easiest answer to this problem is to set up a 301 redirect. This will transfer the link value from external links to the new page you are directing to, ensuring a better user experience.
410 Gone & SEO
Are you looking to remove a page from Google's search index? The easy thing is to let it return a 404 error. However, there is a small catch to that:
404 does not inform the crawlers and bots why the page cannot be found. This could mislead Google to believe that the page is still valid, even though it displays a 404 error. This may not be a problem unless the website has been hacked and malicious content has been included. In that case, you must ensure that the content is gone.
Once the cleanup is done, along with the URLs returning a 404, you must strictly ensure that they return a 410 Gone status code as well. This explicitly informs the crawlers that the page has permanently "gone", and they must remove it from their index.
5xx Server Errors & SEO
A 5xx Server status code may not be directly related to SEO. However, it offers a good tip for troubleshooting purposes related to your website.
Any response code that starts with a 5xx indicates a server error, and this easy identification will make the troubleshooting and fixing processes easier.
You can then directly fix the server, instead of wasting time trying to figure out the issue and then fixing it from the CMS backend or elsewhere. It doesn't matter if you are using a hosting provider or you have your own hosting; it is always best to be aware that the issue is related to the server, and not the website.
How to Check the HTTP Status Code of a Page?
The response codes are easy to find and can be found manually in your browser using website crawlers and a variety of other tools. The methods vary based on the browser you are using. The following instructions will guide you to find the response codes in Chrome (most other browsers will follow similar instructions).
Analyzing the HTTP Status Codes in Chrome:
- 1Open the URL that needs to be checked
- 2Open the "Developer" tab (F12) and then move to the "Network" tab
- 3Refresh the page
- 4Navigate to the top of the list of requests and find the first item labelled as "document"
- 5The response code will be revealed through "Status"
How to Resolve 404 Errors?
You must have wondered what a 404 Page Not Found status code means when a page displayed it. A 404 HTTP status code literally conveys, "Page Not Found", and as the label suggests, it means that the request was sent to the server, but the page in question could not be found.
So, like any other issue, the cause must be found first, and there may be many of them. But it is easy to identify that the issue is on the client side, since the page did not reveal a 5xx error. This basically means that the fault could be on your side.
Fortunately, fixing this issue is a piece of cake, and you don't have to debug your server or reach out to your hosting provider.
The following list of instructions will help you fix a 404 error:
Try refreshing the page. This 404 error could have been another temporary issue that may get resolved with a simple refresh.
Check the URL. There is a chance that you made an error when typing the URL. If the URL typed is wrong, then a 404 is to be expected (unless a 3xx redirect has already been set up).
If you are sure that no error has been made, then try opening the page once more, but this time, from a different device. If it works, then the culprit could be the browser cache or cookies. Clear the browser cache and delete the cookies. Once done, try opening the page once more. Chances are that it would work perfectly.
If the above-given tips don't solve the issue, it could be that the page has been deleted or moved in some way or the other. In case the content was moved, then a redirect link directing the new page from the old must be set up. This ensures that a consumer searching for the page would definitely find it.
However, in the case that it was deleted, then the 404 error response code makes sense, indicating that your website is functioning properly.
There could be 3 reasons for your visitors to end up on a 404 page:
1. Internal Link Issue
An internal link on your website must direct to the 404 page. This can be resolved by removing (or changing) this link, so that it no longer directs to a page that is no longer to be found.
2. External Website Links
External websites could be linking to the page. This issue can be tricky because you cannot directly remove or change the links, unless you request that the other websites change them. However, a simpler solution would be to set up a 301 redirect, directing visitors from the 404 page to the required one. This will not harm your SEO performance while ensuring that the visitors reach the accurate destination.
3. Google Search Index
The page is still relevant in Google's search index, directing traffic to the website. Although a 404 page doesn't stay for long, there is always the possibility that it does stay in the search results for longer than expected, since a 404 doesn't inform the Googlebot whether the page is either temporarily or permanently missing. If this is the issue, you must immediately redirect the page to a new one or retain the original page to ensure that your SEO performance is not harmed.
Find 404 Pages in Google Analytics
Have you ever thought of finding 404 pages in Google Analytics? The great news is that there are ways to help you find them within your analytics setup. Sometimes, this may come down to the configuration of your website. One simple way to find them is by their titles. Most pages with a 404 error will have a "404" or "Page Not Found" in their titles.
This is not a complex process:
- 1. Go to the "behaviour" section on your analytics tool. Once on the section, click "Site Content", and then "All Pages".
- 2. Set your primary dimension to "Page Title" and search for "Page Not Found" or "404".
- 3. Hopefully, this will provide your 404 report.
This may not be the only way to set it up, but it sure is one effective method to find the 404 pages.
How to Resolve 503 Errors?
The 503 response code conveys, "Service Unavailable". This usually occurs when a server is not ready to deal with the request. This issue may arise either when the server is down for maintenance or when it is facing a case of overloading.
In case this issue arises on your website, you must take a look at your server, for there is a hindrance that is making it unable to process the requests.
Unfortunately, this issue may not have a simple fix. A 503 response code may indicate more than one cause. But the silver lining is that it is a server-related issue and not a client-side issue, as 404.
The following list of suggestions will help you identify and fix a 503 error:
1. Check Website Traffic
Is the website functioning properly and receiving enough traffic? Analyse using the Analytics tool or server logs whether visitors can access your website.
2. Server Status
A server that is not receiving traffic could be either under maintenance or have crashed. If the server is under maintenance, then a 503 response code can be anticipated, and things will get back to normal once the issue is resolved. However, if it has crashed, then a restart is the way to go.
3. Traffic Overload
If you are receiving huge amounts of traffic, then the server is bound to show 503 errors because it is overloaded and is finding it difficult to keep up. However, before fixing the problem, you must ensure that the traffic is truly from visitors and that you have not fallen victim to a DoS or DDoS attack.
Detecting DoS or DDoS Attacks
It can be difficult to detect a DoS or DDoS attack, but some effective methods are listed below:
- 1. Analyzing if one or more IP addresses initiate a lot of requests
- 2. The Time To Live (TTL) on a ping request reached zero before reaching the destination
- 3. Inspecting the server logs and detecting huge spikes in traffic
To prevent a DoS or DDoS attack, you will have to execute more than one defense technique.
Server Resource Issues
If you have ruled out a DoS or DDoS attack, then a sudden growth of popularity of your website could be the reason for the large amounts of traffic that have left the server unable to process. The most suitable fix for this problem must be to analyze the connection limits, bandwidth throttling, system resources, fail-safes that could be the triggers, or other hindrances that might be limiting the server's performance. This essentially means that you will have to upgrade the server with the appropriate resources, making it capable of handling the resources.
The list of suggestions discussed above is optimal for troubleshooting one-off 503 errors. But if this issue persists for long, then there might be chances of it being a permanent problem, and you must find more effective solutions that fix the issue. If not fixed, these inefficient processes may extinguish all your resources, resulting in your server not having enough resources to process the large amount of traffic your website is receiving.
Which Status Code does the Website Return When the Browser Request is Successful?
With such a humongous collection of HTTP status codes, it might be tricky to identify the good ones. But rest assured, there are some.
In case the browser request was successful, the browser will return a 2xx response code. This essentially means that a 2xx code must be the dream of website owners since it conveys that the request was successful and has been received, understood, and accepted.