HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. It is a protocol for transmitting information over the internet, and it defines a set of rules for transmitting data between clients and servers. HTTP uses status codes to indicate the outcome of a request. The status codes are grouped into five classes, each with its own range of codes. In this article, we will explain each HTTP protocol status code in detail.
1xx: Informational
This class of status codes provides information about the request's progress. The most common status code in this class is 100 "Continue", which indicates that the client should continue with its request.
2xx: Successful
This class of status codes indicates that the request was successful. The most common status codes in this class are:
| 200 | OK | The request was successful, and the server has returned the requested information. |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Created | The request was successful, and the server has created a new resource as a result. |
| 202 | Accepted | The request was accepted for processing, but the processing has not been completed yet. |
| 204 | No Content | The request was successful, but there is no representation to return (e.g., a DELETE request). |
3xx: Redirection
This class of status codes indicates that further action is required by the client to complete the request. The most common status codes in this class are:
| 301 | Moved Permanently | The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new location. The client should use the new location in future requests. |
|---|---|---|
| 302 | Found | The requested resource is temporarily located at a different URI. The client should continue to use the original URI in future requests. |
| 304 | Not Modified | The client already has a cached copy of the requested resource and the server confirms that it has not been modified since the cached copy was created. |
| 308 | Permanent Redirect | The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new location, and future requests should use the new location. |
4xx: Client Error
This class of status codes indicates that the request from the client was incorrect or cannot be fulfilled by the server. The most common status codes in this class are:
| 400 | Bad Request | The request from the client was incorrect, and the server cannot fulfill it. |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | Unauthorized | The client is not authorized to access the requested resource. |
| 403 | Forbidden | The client is not authorized to access the requested resource, and the server will not provide a reason for the denial. |
| 404 | Not Found | The requested resource could not be found on the server. |
| 405 | Method Not Allowed | The requested method is not allowed for the specified resource. |
5xx: Server Error
This class of status codes indicates that an error occurred on the server while processing the request. The most common status codes in this class are:
| 500 | Internal Server Error | An error occurred on the server while processing the request. |
|---|---|---|
| 502 | Bad Gateway | The server received an invalid response from an upstream server while processing the request. |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | The server is currently unable to handle the request due to maintenance or capacity problems. |
| 504 | Gateway Timeout | The server did not receive a timely response from an upstream server while processing the request. |
In conclusion, understanding HTTP status codes is a crucial aspect of web development and network administration. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in this field, and to continually refine one's knowledge and skills in this area. With the right understanding and expertise, web developers and network administrators can ensure the success of their web applications and websites, and provide their users with a seamless, seamless experience.