What is an HTTP status code?

Every time a browser requests a page, the server answers with a three-digit status code that summarises the result. The first digit tells you the category:

  • 2xx success, for example 200 OK.
  • 3xx redirection, for example 301 Moved Permanently or 302 Found.
  • 4xx client errors, for example 404 Not Found or 403 Forbidden.
  • 5xx server errors, for example 500 Internal Server Error or 503 Service Unavailable.

Why redirect chains matter

Each redirect adds a round trip before the visitor sees the page. Long chains (for example http:// → https:// → www → a trailing slash) slow down page loads and waste crawl budget. Ideally a URL redirects at most once, directly to its final, canonical address.

This tool follows up to 5 redirects and shows each step with its status code. Learn more in Understanding HTTP Status Codes.

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