HTTP Status Code Lookup

Look up any HTTP status code to understand what it means, when it's used, and how to fix common errors. Search by code number or description. Covers all 1xx to 5xx status codes with practical examples and solutions.

Results Count

How to Look Up an HTTP Status Code

  1. 1

    Enter a status code or keyword

    Type an HTTP status code number like 404 or 503 into the search field. You can also search by description keywords such as 'not found', 'redirect', or 'unauthorized' to find the matching code.
  2. 2

    Filter by category

    Use the category filter to narrow results to a specific group: 1xx Informational, 2xx Success, 3xx Redirection, 4xx Client Error, or 5xx Server Error. This is useful when browsing for codes within a particular class.
  3. 3

    Read the explanation and use case

    Each status code displays its official name, a plain-English description, and the most common scenarios where it appears. For error codes (4xx and 5xx), a dedicated 'How to Fix' section provides actionable debugging steps.
  4. 4

    Copy and reference the code

    Click the copy button to copy the status code number to your clipboard. Use this when documenting API responses, configuring server rules, or sharing the code with your development team.

Common Use Cases

1

API Development and Debugging

When building or consuming REST APIs, you encounter dozens of different status codes. Use this reference to choose the correct response code for your endpoints or to understand what an external API is telling you when it returns an unexpected code.
2

Server Configuration and DevOps

Configure Nginx, Apache, or Cloudflare rules with confidence. Look up redirect codes (301 vs 302 vs 308), caching headers (304 Not Modified), or authentication responses (401 vs 403) to set up your web server correctly.
3

SEO and Website Migration

Choosing the wrong redirect type during a site migration can damage search rankings. Use this tool to understand the SEO implications of 301 (permanent) vs 302 (temporary) redirects and verify your redirect strategy before going live.
4

Error Monitoring and Incident Response

When your monitoring dashboard alerts you to a spike in 502, 503, or 504 errors, quickly look up what each code means and follow the fix guidance to diagnose whether the issue is with your application, reverse proxy, or upstream service.

Why Use HTTP Status Code Lookup?

HTTP status codes are the backbone of web communication, but remembering what each code means — especially the less common ones like 422, 429, or 503 — can be a challenge even for experienced developers. Our HTTP Status Code Lookup provides instant access to every standard HTTP status code with clear explanations, real-world use cases, and actionable solutions for error codes. Whether you're debugging an API response or configuring server behavior, this is your quick reference. Each status code entry includes the code number, its official name, a plain-English description of what it means, typical scenarios where it appears, and for error codes (4xx and 5xx), practical steps to diagnose and resolve the issue. Filter by category — informational (1xx), success (2xx), redirection (3xx), client error (4xx), or server error (5xx) — to browse related codes, or search for any keyword to find the code you need.

HTTP Status Code Lookup is a free developer reference tool that provides instant access to every standard HTTP response code from 100 to 599. Each entry includes the official code name, a clear explanation in plain English, real-world scenarios where the code appears, and for error codes, step-by-step debugging guidance. Whether you are building a REST API, configuring a web server, or troubleshooting a production incident, this tool gives you the context you need without searching through RFC documents or Stack Overflow threads.

HTTP status codes are divided into five categories: informational (1xx), success (2xx), redirection (3xx), client error (4xx), and server error (5xx). Understanding the differences within each category is essential for building reliable web applications. For example, knowing when to return a 401 versus a 403, or choosing between a 301 and 308 redirect, directly affects your API behavior and SEO performance. Pair this reference with the cURL to Code Converter to test API endpoints, or use the API Docs Generator to document your status code responses properly.

For developers working with web security, HTTP status codes play a critical role in authentication and authorization flows. Use the Security Headers Analyzer to verify that your server returns the correct security headers alongside status codes, or check your SSL configuration with the SSL Certificate Checker to prevent certificate-related 4xx errors. The DNS Lookup tool helps diagnose connectivity issues that may cause 502 or 504 gateway errors in reverse proxy setups.

How It Compares

Command-line tools like curl and HTTPie show raw status codes but require you to remember what each number means. Browser DevTools display status codes in the Network tab but provide only a brief label without context or fix guidance. Online resources like MDN Web Docs offer detailed articles for each code, but you have to navigate separate pages. HTTP Status Code Lookup consolidates everything into a single searchable interface where you can find any code, its meaning, its use cases, and how to fix it — all without leaving the page.

Compared to other HTTP status code reference sites, FindUtils provides a cleaner, faster experience with no ads, no signup, and instant client-side search. Filter by category or type any keyword to surface matching codes in milliseconds. For developers who need to go beyond status codes, tools like the OpenAPI Validator can check your full API specification, while the MIME Type Finder helps you set the correct Content-Type headers that accompany your HTTP responses.

Tips for Working with HTTP Status Codes

1
Always return the most specific status code available. Use 404 for missing resources, 409 for conflicts, and 422 for validation errors instead of a generic 400 for everything.
2
Use 204 No Content for successful DELETE operations or auto-save requests where the client does not need a response body.
3
Implement 429 Too Many Requests with a Retry-After header in your APIs to protect against abuse while giving clients clear guidance on when to retry.
4
Prefer 301 (permanent) redirects for SEO when URLs change permanently. Use 302 (temporary) only when the original URL will return in the future.
5
Log and monitor 5xx errors separately from 4xx errors. Server errors indicate bugs or infrastructure issues, while client errors are usually expected behavior like invalid input.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What are the main categories of HTTP status codes?

HTTP status codes are grouped into five categories: 1xx (Informational) for ongoing requests, 2xx (Success) for successful operations, 3xx (Redirection) for URL changes, 4xx (Client Error) for request problems, and 5xx (Server Error) for server-side failures.
2

What is the difference between 401 and 403?

A 401 (Unauthorized) means the request lacks valid authentication credentials — the user needs to log in. A 403 (Forbidden) means the server understood the request and the user may be authenticated, but they don't have permission to access the resource.
3

What does a 502 Bad Gateway mean?

A 502 error means a server acting as a gateway or proxy received an invalid response from an upstream server. This commonly happens when a backend service (like a Node.js or PHP application) crashes or becomes unresponsive while a reverse proxy (like Nginx) is trying to forward requests to it.
4

Are all HTTP status codes listed here?

Yes. We include all standard HTTP status codes defined in RFC 7231 and related RFCs, plus commonly used non-standard codes like 418 (I'm a Teapot) and 429 (Too Many Requests). Each entry reflects the latest IANA HTTP Status Code Registry.
5

Can I use this tool when debugging API responses?

Absolutely. When you receive an unexpected status code from an API, search for it here to understand what the server is telling you and what steps to take. The 'How to Fix' section for error codes provides practical debugging guidance.

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