HTTP Request Builder: Send Public HTTP Calls Safely
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How to Look Up an HTTP Status Code
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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.
Guides and articles
Read instructions and examples for this tool.
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Common Use Cases
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.
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.
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.
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 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, 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
- 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.
- Use 204 No Content for successful DELETE operations or auto-save requests where the client does not need a response body.
- 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.
- Prefer 301 (permanent) redirects for SEO when URLs change permanently. Use 302 (temporary) only when the original URL will return in the future.
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A 301 (Moved Permanently) tells browsers and search engines that the resource has permanently moved to a new URL. A 302 (Found) indicates a temporary redirect, meaning the original URL is still valid and the redirect may change in the future. For SEO, 301 redirects pass link equity to the new URL while 302 redirects do not.
What causes a 429 Too Many Requests error?
A 429 status code means the client has sent too many requests in a given time window and has been rate-limited by the server. APIs use this to protect against abuse and overload. The response typically includes a Retry-After header indicating how long to wait before sending another request.
What does a 204 No Content response mean?
A 204 status code means the server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content in the response body. This is commonly used for DELETE requests, auto-save operations, or any action where the client does not need updated data back from the server.
Is this HTTP status code lookup tool?
No. FindUtils HTTP Status Code Lookup works with no signup, no rate limits. All data is loaded in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.
How do I fix a 500 Internal Server Error?
A 500 error is a generic server-side failure. Start by checking your server error logs for the specific exception or stack trace. Common causes include syntax errors in server-side code, misconfigured.htaccess or nginx config files, database connection failures, and exhausted memory or disk space. The error is never caused by the client.