BUY WEBSITES
BUY DOMAINS
LOGIN
SIGNUP
HTTP Status Code Reference
An HTTP status code is the three-digit number a server returns with every response, and it quietly decides how search engines treat a URL: which pages get indexed, which signals pass through a redirect, and which errors quietly drain crawl budget. The difference between a 301 and a 302, or a 404 and a 410, is small to read but large in its effect on rankings, so the codes are worth knowing precisely rather than guessing.
This HTTP status code reference puts the full 1xx-5xx range in one searchable place. Filter by number or keyword, switch between code classes, and read a plain-English meaning plus a dedicated SEO note for the codes that matter to crawling and indexing. It is free and runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
SEO: good / expected SEO: handle with care SEO: risk / avoid Status names and meanings are the IANA / RFC definitions. The SEO note on each card is editorial guidance, not part of the spec.
🔒 Private: everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.
How to use the HTTP status code reference
Type a number like 301 or a word like redirect, gone, or maintenance into the filter, or pick a class tab to browse a whole range. Each card shows the status name, its meaning, and where relevant an SEO note coloured green, amber, or red for how much care it needs.
Redirects: when to reach for 301, 302, 307 or 308
The redirect codes are where most SEO mistakes happen. A 301 says a move is permanent and tells Google to consolidate ranking signals onto the target, which is what you want for domain migrations and HTTPS canonicalization. A 302 or 307 signals a temporary move and should never be left on a permanent one. A 308 is the method-preserving twin of 301. Filter the tool for “redirect” to compare all four side by side, and always point each redirect at the true equivalent page rather than the homepage.
404 versus 410, and why the difference is not cosmetic
Both 404 and 410 tell a crawler a page is missing, but they carry different intent. A 404 says the page is simply not found, with no statement about whether that is permanent, so Google rechecks it for a while before dropping it. A 410 Gone says the removal is deliberate and final, and Google tends to drop those URLs slightly faster. Use 410 when you have intentionally retired a page and never want it back, and reserve 404 for genuine not-found cases or when removal might be temporary.
Server errors and the right way to do maintenance
The 5xx range is about infrastructure, not content quality, but sustained server errors still hurt rankings because Google slows its crawl and can drop pages that keep failing. The one code to use deliberately is 503 Service Unavailable with a Retry-After header during planned maintenance: it tells Google the outage is temporary so it waits and retries instead of de-indexing. Serving a maintenance page as a 200, or leaving real pages on a long-running 503, both send the wrong signal and risk lost visibility.
HTTP status codes for SEO frequently asked questions
Q1What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect for SEO?
A 301 is a permanent redirect that tells Google to consolidate ranking signals onto the new URL, which is what you want for moved or merged pages. A 302 is a temporary redirect that signals the original URL should keep being used. Leaving a permanent move on a 302 sends a mixed signal and can keep the old URL indexed, so use 301 for any move that is meant to last.
Q2Should I use a 404 or a 410 when I delete a page?
Use 410 Gone when the removal is intentional and final, such as a retired product or expired campaign, because Google drops 410 URLs slightly faster than 404s. Use 404 Not Found when the page is genuinely missing or removal might be temporary. The one thing to avoid is redirecting every deleted page to the homepage, which Google treats as a soft 404 and ignores.
Q3Which HTTP status code should I return during site maintenance?
Return 503 Service Unavailable with a Retry-After header for planned maintenance. This tells search engines the outage is temporary, so Googlebot pauses and retries later instead of treating the pages as gone. Never serve a maintenance page as a 200, because that tells Google the thin holding page is your real content and can replace your indexed pages.
Q4Do 5xx server errors affect my Google rankings?
Yes, indirectly. A 5xx error is a server fault rather than a content signal, but when Googlebot repeatedly hits 500, 502, or 504 responses it slows its crawl rate and can eventually drop pages that keep failing. A brief blip is fine, but sustained server errors waste crawl budget and risk lost indexing, so persistent 5xx codes should be treated as urgent.
Q5Why would Googlebot get a 403 or 429 when users do not?
Because a firewall, CDN, or bot-protection rule is treating Googlebot as an unwanted crawler. A 403 marks the page as forbidden and a 429 means the request is being rate limited, and either one stops Googlebot from crawling and indexing those URLs even though human visitors load them fine. Check that your security layer allows the verified Googlebot user agent.
