Why HTTP Status Codes Matter

Every time a visitor loads a page, your server returns an HTTP status code. Most users never see these codes, but they are essential for debugging, SEO and monitoring uptime.

The Most Common Status Codes

• 200 OK: Everything loaded successfully.
• 301 Moved Permanently: A permanent redirect to a new URL.
• 302 Found: A temporary redirect.
• 404 Not Found: The requested page does not exist.
• 500 Internal Server Error: A server side problem occurred.

How Status Codes Affect SEO

Search engines rely on status codes to understand your site structure. Too many 404 errors or 5xx errors can harm your crawlability and rankings. Meanwhile, correct use of 301 redirects preserves link equity when URLs change.

Using Tools to Inspect Codes

You can use browser dev tools, online checkers or crawl tools to see which status codes your pages return. Regular checks help you spot broken links and misconfigured redirects early.