Why website visitors get error codes
Server errors, also known as HTTP server error codes or HTTP status codes, are responses sent by your web server to indicate a problem or error encountered while processing a visitor’s request. These errors occur when your server is unable to fulfill a request due to various reasons.
Here are six common types of server errors:
- 500 Internal Server Error This is a generic error message indicating that an unexpected condition occurred on your server, resulting in your server being unable to fulfill the request. It is a broad error that does not provide specific details about the underlying problem.
- 502 Bad Gateway This error occurs when your server, acting as a gateway or proxy, receives an invalid response from an upstream server. It typically indicates a communication problem between servers.
- 503 Service Unavailable This error indicates that your server is temporarily unable to handle the request due to being overloaded, undergoing maintenance, or experiencing other transient issues. It suggests that your server may become available again in the future.
- 504 Gateway Timeout Similar to the 502 error, a 504 error occurs when your server, acting as a gateway or proxy, did not receive a timely response from an upstream server. It indicates that your server reached a timeout while waiting for a response.
- 505 HTTP Version Not Supported This error occurs when your server does not support or refuses to support the HTTP protocol version used in the request. It suggests that the client should use a different version of the protocol.
- 508 Loop Detected This error indicates that your server detected an infinite loop while processing a request. It typically occurs when there is a misconfiguration or faulty logic causing the server to continuously redirect or reference the same resources.
When a website visitor encounters a server error, it is generally your responsibility to investigate and resolve the underlying issue to ensure the smooth functioning of your server.