HTTP Status Code Checker
See the exact status code a page returns and what it means for SEO
What the HTTP Status Code Checker Does
Whenever a browser or a search engine crawler requests a page, the server answers with a three-digit status code before anything else. The code says whether the request worked, whether the page has moved or whether something went wrong. The HTTP Status Code Checker on WebTOOLkt asks for a URL and shows you the code it returns, so you can tell at a glance whether a page is healthy.
It is a basic but essential tool for webmasters, developers and SEO specialists, and it is often the fastest way to find out why a page is missing from search results or why a link is not working.
How to Use the HTTP Status Code Checker
- Copy the full address of the page, including http:// or https://.
- Paste it into the tool and run the check.
- Read the status code and any message shown beside it.
- If the code is not what you expected, investigate using the guide below.
- Test several important URLs: the homepage, key landing pages, old addresses that should redirect and pages you recently deleted.
The Five Families of Status Codes
Codes are grouped by their first digit. The official definitions are in the HTTP semantics specification, and Mozilla keeps a readable status code reference.
- 1xx, informational: the request was received and processing continues. You rarely see these.
- 2xx, success: the request worked. 200 OK is the normal answer for a healthy page.
- 3xx, redirection: the content is elsewhere. 301 and 308 are permanent, 302 and 307 are temporary, and 304 means the cached copy is still valid.
- 4xx, client errors: the request has a problem. 404 means not found, 410 means gone for good, 403 means forbidden and 429 means too many requests.
- 5xx, server errors: the server failed. 500 is a general error, 502 and 504 point to gateway problems and 503 means the service is temporarily unavailable.
What Each Code Means for SEO
- 200: the page can be crawled and indexed, provided no noindex directive or robots rule blocks it.
- 301 or 308: signals a permanent move. Google explains how it handles these in its guide to redirects and Google Search.
- 302 or 307: temporary. Fine for short-term changes, but not for permanent ones.
- 404: the page does not exist. A few are normal, but important pages returning 404 lose traffic and any links pointing to them.
- 410: the page was removed on purpose. Search engines tend to drop it quickly.
- 429 and 5xx: repeated server errors can make crawlers slow down or skip your site. Google's guide to HTTP status codes and network errors describes the effects.
Watch for Soft 404 Errors
A soft 404 happens when a missing page shows a "not found" message to visitors but returns a 200 status code to crawlers. Search engines may treat these pages as low quality and waste crawl effort on them. If your site shows an error page, make sure the server actually returns 404 or 410. This is one of the most useful checks the tool supports.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Important page returns 404. Restore it, or redirect it with a 301 to the closest relevant page.
- Page returns 403. Check file permissions, security plugins and firewall rules that may be blocking requests.
- Page returns 500. Look at server logs, recent plugin or theme changes and syntax errors in configuration files.
- Intermittent 503. The server may be overloaded or in maintenance. Review hosting limits and traffic spikes.
- Different codes for www and non-www. Choose one version and redirect the other to it.
- Http version returns 200. Redirect it to https so only one version exists.
Why Use This Tool Instead of Other Options
Browsers hide status codes behind the page you see, and developer tools can feel intimidating. The HTTP Status Code Checker gives the answer in one click, free and with no installation. It works hand in hand with the Redirect Checker, Get HTTP Headers and Server Status Checker on WebTOOLkt, so you can move from spotting a problem to diagnosing it.
Related WebTOOLkt Tools
- Redirect Checker to follow each hop in a redirect chain.
- Get HTTP Headers to read the full server response.
- Server Status Checker to check whether a server is up.
- Htaccess Redirect Generator to create Apache redirect rules.
- Google Index Checker to see whether a page is indexed.
- Website Audit Tool for a wider site health check.
Useful External Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 404 bad for SEO?
A few are normal. Problems arise when important pages or pages with links return 404.
What is the difference between 404 and 410?
404 means not found, while 410 means the page is intentionally gone.
Why does the tool show a redirect code instead of 200?
The address you entered sends visitors elsewhere. Use the Redirect Checker to see the full path.
