📊 HTTP Status Code Checker

HTTP status codes are three-digit numbers returned by web servers to indicate the result of a client's request. They're crucial for website functionality, SEO, and user experience. Status codes help search engines understand content availability, guide browser behavior, and provide developers with debugging information. Understanding status codes is essential for website maintenance and optimization.

A 200 OK status code indicates that the HTTP request was successful and the server has returned the requested content. This is the ideal status code for web pages, meaning the content loaded properly, search engines can index it, and users can access it without issues. It's the most common and desired status code for functioning websites.

Fix 404 errors by: checking the URL for typos, ensuring the file exists on the server, verifying file permissions, updating internal links pointing to the missing page, implementing proper redirects if the content moved, creating the missing content if it should exist, or setting up a custom 404 page that helps users find what they're looking for.

500 errors are caused by server-side issues like misconfigured .htaccess files, PHP errors, plugin conflicts, insufficient server resources, database connection problems, or corrupted files. Fix by checking error logs, deactivating plugins, reviewing recent changes, increasing server resources, fixing file permissions, or contacting your hosting provider for assistance.

HTTP status codes significantly impact SEO. 200 codes allow proper indexing, 301 redirects preserve link equity, 404 errors can hurt rankings if excessive, and 5xx errors prevent indexing and signal site reliability issues. Search engines use status codes to understand content availability, crawl efficiency, and site quality, making proper status code management crucial for SEO success.

301 redirects are permanent, telling search engines the content has moved permanently and to transfer ranking signals to the new URL. 302 redirects are temporary, suggesting the original URL will return and keeping ranking signals with the original location. Use 301 for permanent moves and 302 for temporary changes like maintenance or A/B testing.

403 Forbidden errors occur when the server understands the request but refuses to authorize access. Common causes include incorrect file permissions, IP blocking, missing index files, .htaccess restrictions, authentication requirements, or server security configurations. Fix by checking permissions (744 for files, 755 for directories), reviewing .htaccess rules, and contacting hosting support.

Check HTTP status codes weekly for small sites, daily for e-commerce or high-traffic sites, and immediately after any major changes, updates, or migrations. Use automated monitoring tools for continuous checking of critical pages. Regular monitoring helps catch issues early, maintain SEO performance, and ensure optimal user experience across your website.

HTTP status codes are categorized by their first digit: 1xx (Informational) for ongoing requests, 2xx (Success) for successful requests, 3xx (Redirection) for URL changes, 4xx (Client Error) for client-side problems, and 5xx (Server Error) for server-side issues. Each category serves different purposes in web communication and requires different troubleshooting approaches.

Yes, status codes significantly affect performance. Error codes like 404s and 500s create poor user experience and can slow down crawling. Excessive redirects add latency. Proper status codes ensure efficient browser and search engine behavior, while errors consume server resources and bandwidth unnecessarily. Optimizing status codes improves overall website performance and user satisfaction.

Use Google Search Console for crawl error monitoring, browser developer tools for real-time checking, server logs for historical analysis, uptime monitoring services for continuous tracking, SEO audit tools like Screaming Frog for comprehensive analysis, and our HTTP status checker for detailed individual URL analysis with explanations and troubleshooting guidance.

Yes, our HTTP status code checker is completely free to use with no registration or payment required. You can check unlimited URLs and get detailed status analysis, explanations, troubleshooting tips, response headers, and save/share functionality at no cost. The tool provides professional-grade HTTP status analysis for developers and website owners.