The Ultimate HTTP Website Error Code Guide

Table of Contents

• HTTP Website Error Code Explained
• What exactly are HTTP Error Codes?
• The Eight Most Common HTTP Website Error and Status Codes
  • “401 Unauthorized”
    • How can 401 be fixed?
  • “404 Not Found” page
    • How can website error code 404 be fixed?
  • “Internal Server Error 500”
    • How can error 500 be fixed?
  • “502 Error Gateway”
    • How can 502 be fixed?
  • Error Code 503 – Service Unavailable
    • Causes for Service Unavailable Error Code 503
    • How Can You Fix Error Code 503 Service Unavailable?
• HTTP Redirect Codes Explained
  • “301 Permanently Moved”
    • How can 301 redirect code be fixed?
  • “302 Found”
    • How can 302 be fixed?
  • “410 Gone”
    • How can 410 error be fixed?

HTTP Website Error Code Explained

If you own a website, you will definitely run into HTTP website error code at some point. There are a number of common HTTP website error code that can occur when browsing the web. These errors can often be caused by problems with internet connectivity or issues with the website itself. Regardless of the cause, it is important to understand how to fix these errors so that you can continue using your favourite websites without interruption.

Some of the most common http website error codes include 404, 502, and 503. 404 errors typically indicate that there is a problem with a specific webpage or resource on a website. This can be due to an issue with the URL, corrupted files, or blocked access from your browser.

Some errors can be related to issues with server connections or performance. In some cases, this can be due to congestion or high traffic on the website at a particular time of day or day of the week. To address these types of errors, it may be necessary to try accessing the website at another time when traffic levels are lower. Depending on the type of HTTP website error code that you encounter, there may also be specific steps you can take to resolve it and get back online as quickly as possible.

Following that, I will go over the most common HTTP error codes, as well as some tips for dealing with each one to make your life easier.

What exactly are HTTP Error Codes?

HTTP status codes are the results of a client’s request to a server. The server displays different responses depending on how the request is handled. Redirects, server errors, client errors, and other similar responses are examples of such responses. HTTP error codes are not part of web pages; rather, they are server responses about how the request was handled.

Not all HTTP status codes denote an error. Some, for example, simply indicate that a page has been relocated, either permanently or temporarily. However, if you encounter errors, the HTTP error codes displayed will assist you in determining the source of the problem.

Now that you understand what it is, let’s look at some of the most common HTTP error and status codes, as well as how to resolve them.

The Eight Most Common HTTP Website Error and Status Codes

“401 Unauthorized”

The first of our HTTP error codes is ‘401’. This error indicates that an unauthenticated request was received by the server. In this error, a message announces that the page could not be loaded due to invalid credentials for whatever reason.

How can 401 be fixed?

It is possible that the login URL has changed, or that the URL you entered is incorrect. If that isn’t the case, try clearing the browser cache and cookies.

“404 Not Found” page

On the internet, a ‘404’ status code is a common HTTP error code. This HTTP response is generated when the user’s requested page cannot be found on the server. There could be several causes for ‘404’ errors. Perhaps the webmaster deleted the page, or the URL you entered was incorrect (due to a client-side error).

How can website error code 404 be fixed?

Repairing a broken link (or, more precisely, a 404) remains an important maintenance task. Use the .htaccess method if you are a perfectionist and don’t mind going the extra mile. However, installing the Redirection plugin from the WordPress plugin directory is a more natural way to accomplish this.

HTTP Website Error Code 404 – Image by storyset on Freepik

“Internal Server Error 500”

A ‘500’ Internal Server Error is a generic error that appears when there is a problem with your server. Because it’s a generic error message, there could be a variety of causes, including problems with WordPress plugins, PHP issues, database issues, and more.

How can error 500 be fixed?

Fixing the ‘500’ Internal Server Error is difficult because it is caused by multiple factors. Check out this link for a full guide.

Internal Server Error 500 – Image by storyset on Freepik

“502 Error Gateway”

‘502’ is distinct from other HTTP error codes. When one server on the internet receives an invalid response from another server, this is referred to as a bad gateway. When the server takes longer than expected to complete a request, a ‘502’ HTTP status code will be displayed on the screen.

How can 502 be fixed?

Most of the time, simply refreshing the browser or clearing the browser cache will resolve the issue. If you’ve recently migrated to the site, try waiting 24 to 48 hours. You can even contact the hosting provider to double-check. A third-party CDN service or WordPress plugin may be to blame for your ‘502’ response. If the above solutions do not work, try changing the WordPress theme.

Error Code 503 – Service Unavailable

The most common error message is the dreaded 404 page not found error but there are other error messages out there too. One of the less common ones is the 503 service unavailable error.

The 503 status code, or service unavailable error, means that the website’s server is not available right now. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as maintenance or an overload of traffic to the site. Usually, when a website is down for maintenance, they’ll display a message saying that the site is down for maintenance and will be back up soon. If you see this message, it’s usually nothing to worry about and the website will be back up and running in no time. However, if you see a 503 error without any explanation from the website, that’s when you should start to worry.

Causes for Service Unavailable Error Code 503

There are a few different things that can cause a 503 service unavailable error code. They are as follows:

• The most common reason for getting a 503 service unavailable error code is because the server is down for maintenance. Usually, websites take their servers down for maintenance at night when traffic is low. If you try to visit a website during this time, you’ll likely see a message explaining that the site is down for maintenance and will be back up soon.

• Another potential cause for a HTTP 503 unavailable error code is if too many people are trying to visit a website at the same time, putting the server is over capacity, it can cause the server to crash. When this happens, everyone trying to visit the site will see a 503 service unavailable error message until the issue is resolved and traffic goes back to normal levels.

• A DDoS attack occurs when someone tries to overload a server with requests in order to make it crash. This usually happens because the attacker doesn’t like the website or wants to take it offline for political reasons. If you see a 503 service unavailable error code after a large news event or during times of political unrest, it’s possible that someone has launched a DDoS attack against the site in question.

503 Service Unavailable – Image by storyset on Freepik

How Can You Fix Error Code 503 Service Unavailable?

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do on your end to fix a 503 service unavailable error code other than wait it out or contact customer support if you’re able to do so. If the problem lies with the website itself, then there’s nothing you can do but wait until they fix the problem on their end. However, if you think that your computer might be causing the problem (for example, if you’re getting errors on multiple sites) then here are some steps you can take:

• Clear your cache and cookies as sometimes stored data can cause problems with websites loading properly. Clearing your cache and cookies can help resolve these issues by clearing out stored data that might be causing problems.
• If your browser is outdated you may need to update your browser as it can sometimes have trouble loading websites properly. Updating your browser, or downloading and installing a new one if necessary, can help resolve these issues by making sure that your browser has all of the latest updates and features installed.

HTTP Redirect Codes Explained

“301 Permanently Moved”

An HTTP ‘301’ occurs when a specific webpage is permanently relocated to a new URL. It’s not an error in and of itself, but it conveys important information.

It could be at the page level, where you’re directed to another similar post (or even the homepage), or at the domain level.

How can 301 redirect code be fixed?

Examine the redirect setup to ensure that the redirection is flawless. If you’ve been using a WordPress plugin, replace it with Redirection. Check that you used the .htaccess file to perform the redirection correctly. This is how you do it. Maintain the domain-level redirection for a few months to ensure Google that the resource has been permanently relocated.

“302 Found”

This HTTP redirect code is very similar to ‘301’ but it is only used for temporary redirects. This response informs Google that the page has been temporarily relocated and will return to its original URL at some point. If everything is done correctly, the user will be redirected to another URL in a matter of seconds.

How can 302 be fixed?

The use of a WordPress plugin is the simplest method for setting up a ‘302’ redirect. Rank Math can be installed and used from the WordPress directory.

“410 Gone”

This ‘410′ Gone error corresponds to the 404 response. Consider this a permanent 404. This code can be used by a webmaster to permanently remove a post or page or to republish it on another site.

A ‘410’ response indicates to Google that the requested resource has been permanently deleted from the internet and will no longer appear again. This makes it simpler to have Google de-index the page.

How can 410 error be fixed?

A ‘410’ gone error can occur for a variety of reasons. First, double-check the input URL to ensure it is correct. Debug the update on the WordPress website next. Remove any WordPress plugins or third-party extensions. If none of the above works, the problem is on the server’s end. Locate the .htaccess file. Next, in the .htaccess text editor, find the word “RewriteXXX” and put in the following code:

Replace [http://yourwebsite.com/expired page] with the URL that has expired or where you want to add ‘410′ responses when entering the code.

Other methods for improving how your website looks with HTTP error codes exist. For example, you could develop a customized ‘404’ page that visitors will encounter if they try to access a non-existent page.

Given that you have now managed to learn what are the most common HTTP error codes and status codes, perhaps you may be interested in reading about our 10 most common Linux commands.