About the HTTP Status Code Lookup
HTTP status codes communicate the outcome of a request in three digits, but with over 60 official codes across five categories (1xx-5xx), it's easy to forget the exact meaning of anything beyond the common 200, 404, and 500.
This tool is a searchable reference for every standard HTTP status code, its name, and a short description of when it's used.
How it works
- Type a status code (like 404) or a keyword (like 'not found') into the search box.
- Matching status codes appear instantly with their name and description.
- Clear the search to browse the full list of standard codes.
Common use cases
- Debugging an API error: Looking up exactly what a 422 response means versus a 400, to choose the correct status code for your own API's validation errors.
- Writing API documentation: Quickly referencing the precise wording and use case for a status code before documenting an endpoint's possible responses.
- Learning HTTP semantics: Browsing the redirection (3xx) or client error (4xx) categories to understand the different scenarios each code is meant for.
Frequently asked questions
What do the different hundreds ranges mean?
1xx codes are informational, 2xx indicate success, 3xx indicate redirection, 4xx indicate a client-side error (like a bad request or missing resource), and 5xx indicate a server-side error.
What's the difference between 401 and 403?
401 Unauthorized means the request lacks valid authentication credentials (you need to log in), while 403 Forbidden means you're authenticated but don't have permission to access the resource.
Are there non-standard status codes not listed here?
This reference covers the standard codes registered with IANA; some platforms use unofficial codes (like Cloudflare's 520-527 range) for platform-specific situations that aren't part of the official HTTP specification.
Which status code should I use for a successful DELETE request?
200 OK (with a response body), or 204 No Content (with no body) are both common and valid choices — the difference is simply whether you have any additional information to return to the client.
This tool runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server. Read more in the Privacy Policy, or browse the full list of tools.