What Are HTTP Status Codes?
HTTP status codes are 3-digit numbers returned by a web server when a browser or crawler requests a URL. They tell the requester whether the request was successful, whether the page has moved, or whether an error occurred. Understanding these codes is essential for web development, SEO, and server administration.
Status codes are grouped by their first digit: 2xx = success, 3xx = redirection, 4xx = client error, 5xx = server error.
Common HTTP Status Codes Explained
| Code | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | Page loaded successfully |
| 301 | Moved Permanently | Permanent redirect — SEO equity passes to new URL |
| 302 | Found (Temporary) | Temporary redirect — SEO equity stays at original URL |
| 304 | Not Modified | Cached version is still valid — no content sent |
| 404 | Not Found | Page doesn't exist at this URL |
| 410 | Gone | Page permanently deleted |
| 500 | Server Error | Something broke on the server side |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | Server is down or overloaded |
How to Check a URL's HTTP Status
Enter the URL
Paste any URL — include the full https:// prefix. The tool sends a HEAD request to the URL and reads the response.
View the Status Code
The status code displays with its meaning and color coding (green = success, orange = redirect, red = error).
Review Response Headers
See the full response headers: Content-Type, Server, Cache-Control, Location (for redirects), and more.
SEO Use: Check all your important URLs are returning 200 (not redirecting through chains or returning 404). Every unnecessary redirect adds latency and dilutes SEO equity.
Checking Redirect Chains
Our tool follows and displays every step of a redirect chain. If http://old-domain.com redirects to https://old-domain.com which redirects to https://www.new-domain.com, you see all three steps with their codes (301 → 301 → 200). Long redirect chains (3+ hops) slow down page loading and should be flattened to a single redirect.
HTTP Status Codes & SEO
- 301 vs 302 for SEO: Always use 301 for permanent moves — it passes link equity to the new URL. 302 is for truly temporary situations only.
- 404 pages: Return 404 (not 200) for missing pages. A "soft 404" (missing page returning 200) wastes crawl budget and confuses Google.
- 410 Gone: Preferred over 404 for intentionally deleted pages — tells Google to remove from index faster.
- 503 for maintenance: Return 503 with Retry-After header during planned downtime so Google doesn't deindex your pages.
Check URL Status Free
Status code, redirect chain, response headers. Instant check, no signup needed.
Check URL NowBulk URL Status Check
For site audits, use the bulk checker to paste up to 100 URLs at once and check all of them in parallel. The results table shows each URL with its final status code, redirect chain length, and response time — perfect for comprehensive site health checks before and after migrations.
ToolMatrix HTTP Status Checker
Single and bulk URL checking. Full redirect chain display. Response headers shown. Color-coded results. Status code reference library. Free, no account needed, checks any public URL instantly.