HTTP Status Checker

Traffsite's HTTP status checker sends a request to a web address and reads the code the server sends back. Every code has three digits, and the first digit tells you which group it belongs to. Codes that start with 2 mean success, and codes that start with 3 mean the page has moved. Codes that start with 4 point to a problem with the request, while codes that start with 5 point to a problem on the server.

The code comes from the server, not the page, so only the number shows what really happened.

Common HTTP status codes and what they mean

You will meet these codes most often when you check an HTTP status code.

• 200 OK. The page loaded and the server delivered the content.
• 301 Moved Permanently. The page has a new home, and search engines should use the new address.
• 302 Found. The move is temporary, so the original address is expected to return.
• 307 and 308. These are strict versions of temporary and permanent redirects that keep the request method unchanged.
• 403 Forbidden. The server understood the request but refused to let it in.
• 404 Not Found. The server has nothing at that address.
• 410 Gone. The page was removed on purpose and is not coming back.
• 429 Too Many Requests. The server thinks it is being asked too often and wants the sender to slow down.
• 500 Internal Server Error. Something broke on the server while it handled the request.
• 503 Service Unavailable. The server is busy or closed for maintenance.

Most people reach for this Traffsite tool when something looks off or when they want to be sure it is not. These are the jobs it handles best.

• After a site move. Old URLs should send visitors to the new ones with a permanent redirect. A quick check proves that each one does.
• After a release. A missing config file can turn a healthy page into a 500 error. A quick check minutes after launch catches it early.
• During an SEO audit. Pages that return 4xx codes drop out of Google's index, and 5xx codes can slow crawling. The code shows which problem you face.
• When traffic drops. A page that quietly started returning an error is one of the easiest causes to rule out.
• Before you share a link. A campaign or partner link that returns 404 wastes every click it receives.
• On staging sites and API endpoints. A status code is the quickest way to see whether a service answers at all.

Search engines read the status code before they read anything else on the page. That code decides what happens next, so it helps to know how Google treats each group.

• 200 codes. Google can consider the content for indexing. A 200 does not promise a place in search, though. A page that shows an error message but returns 200 may be treated as a soft 404 and left out.
• 300 codes. Google follows the redirect and looks at the destination. It follows up to ten hops and treats a 301 as a strong sign that the new URL is the main one.
• 400 codes. These pages are not indexed, and URLs already in the index are removed over time.
• 500 and 429 codes. These tell Google the server is struggling, so it slows down and tries again later. A long run of server errors can push pages out of the index.

For a site owner, this boils down to a simple habit. Fix errors fast, keep redirects tidy and check your key pages after every change.

The aim is a URL layer you can trust. Every important page should answer with 200, every redirect should be intentional, and every error should be visible within minutes rather than discovered by a visitor days later. Keep the HTTP status checker in your routine, and the pages you depend on will keep answering as planned.

A good status checker earns a spot in your bookmarks for a few clear reasons.

• It gives you an answer in seconds. The result needs no special skill beyond knowing the code groups.
• It needs no setup. There is nothing to install, so it works straight from your browser, even in the middle of a client call.
• It settles arguments. When a developer says a page is fine and your analytics disagree, the response code is hard evidence.
• It protects organic traffic. Errors cost you visitors, so routine checks are a cheap way to guard the traffic you already earn.
• It keeps campaigns healthy. You can confirm that every ad and email link works before you pay for a single click.

Using it takes less than a minute.

1. Paste the full URL into the box, including the https part.
2. Press the button to start the check. The tool sends a request and waits for the reply.
3. Read the status code and the details beside it.
4. Compare the result with what you expected. A live product page that returns 404 needs attention, while a retired page that 301s to its replacement is doing its job.
5. Fix the problem at the source, then run the HTTP status checker again to confirm the new response.

Do not forget the other versions of your address. The http, https, www and non-www versions should all land on one page through a single 301.

Why a URL status checker can disagree with your browser

Some firewalls block automated requests. In that case the checker may get a 403 or 429 while your browser loads the page without any trouble. Treat one odd result with care, and confirm it in a browser before changing anything.

It suits anyone who owns, builds or markets a website.

• Developers use it for staging checks, API endpoints and post-deploy tests.
• SEO specialists use it during audits, migrations and index debugging.
• Site owners use it when a visitor reports that a page is down.
• Marketers use it to confirm that landing pages load before the ad budget goes live.
• Agencies use it as a fast first step on any new client site.

You do not need to read the HTTP rulebook to use the results. If you know the code groups, you already know the next step.