HTTP Status Codes

HTTP status codes are standardized three-digit server responses indicating the outcome of a search engine crawler’s or user’s request to access a webpage. They are the fundamental language of technical SEO. The 200 series indicates success, the 300 series indicates redirection (e.g., 301 permanent, 302 temporary), the 400 series indicates client errors (e.g., 404 Not Found, 410 Gone), and the 500 series indicates critical server failures. Continuous monitoring of HTTP status codes in server log files and Google Search Console is mandatory to identify broken architecture, reclaim lost link equity, and ensure maximum crawl efficiency.

HTTP Status Codes Simplified

HTTP status codes are the hidden messages your website’s computer server sends to Google’s bots. They tell Google if a page loaded perfectly, if it was moved to a new link, or if the server completely crashed and the page is broken.