Tool Overview

This tool is a reference guide for HTTP status codes. You enter a status code, a response line, or a chain of codes (like a redirect path). The tool looks up each code and shows what it means, what impact it has, and what action to take. You can browse by category and use quick buttons for common codes.

When you see a number like 404 or 503 in a browser, log, or API response it is not always clear what went wrong or what to do. Looking up each code by hand is slow. This tool puts the meaning, impact, and recommendation in one place. You paste the code or the line you saw and get a short explanation and next steps.

The tool is for developers, support staff, and anyone who deals with web or API responses. You can use it with little experience. You type a code or paste a line and read the result. Technical users can also run an optional AI analysis to get debugging notes and a sample test command.

Background & Concept Explanation

When a client (browser or app) asks a server for a page or data, the server sends back a status code. The code is a three-digit number. The first digit tells you the class: 1xx informational, 2xx success, 3xx redirection, 4xx client error, 5xx server error. The rest of the number refines the meaning. A related operation involves referencing the ASCII chart as part of a similar workflow.

Common codes you will see include 200 (OK), 301 and 302 (redirects), 400 (bad request), 401 (unauthorized), 403 (forbidden), 404 (not found), 500 (server error), 502 (bad gateway), and 503 (service unavailable). Each has a standard phrase and a typical cause. The tool explains these and suggests what to check or fix.

Sometimes you see more than one code in a row, for example in a redirect chain: 301 then 302 then 200. The tool can parse that. You paste the codes or the response line and it shows each step with its meaning, impact, and recommendation. That helps when you are debugging redirects or tracing why a request ended in an error.

Not every possible code is documented in the tool. Only a subset of the most used codes have full text. For any other valid three-digit code (1xx to 5xx) the tool still shows the category and a short note that it is a custom or undocumented code. You can then look up that specific code elsewhere if needed. For adjacent tasks, looking up the ASCII table addresses a complementary step.

Key Features

• Code or text input. You can type a single code like 404, paste a response line like HTTP/2 503, or paste several codes such as 301 then 302 then 200. The tool finds all valid three-digit HTTP status codes in the text and looks up each one. This lets you use it from logs, error messages, or API docs without retyping.
• Grouped by category. Each code is labeled with its category: Informational, Success, Redirection, Client Error, or Server Error. The category is derived from the first digit. You see at a glance whether the response was good, a redirect, or an error on the client or server side.
• What it means. For each code the tool shows a short summary of what that status means. You read it to understand what the server is saying. This is the main reference part of the tool.
• Impact. For each code the tool describes the impact: what happens for the user or the system. For example 404 leads to broken links and bounces; 503 means the service is overloaded or down. This helps you prioritize and explain issues to others.
• Action. For each code the tool suggests what to do next. The recommendation is practical: check headers, fix the URL, look at server logs, or retry with backoff. You use it to decide the next step when debugging or configuring.
• Redirect chain view. When you enter multiple codes the tool shows them as a chain (e.g. 301 then 302 then 200) and then one card per code. You can see the full path of a redirect and what each step means. This helps when you are tracing redirects or fixing redirect loops.
• Quick access codes. Buttons let you jump to common codes: 200, 301, 302, 400, 401, 403, 404, 500, 502, 503. One click fills the input and shows the explanation. This speeds up looking up the same codes often.
• Clear and explain. You can clear the input and start over. You click Explain Status to parse the current input and show the result. If no valid codes are found the tool tells you. Input length is limited so the page stays responsive.
• Optional AI deep analysis. After you have a result you can ask for an AI analysis. The tool sends your input to a backend and returns an expert analysis, a list of recommended fixes, and optionally a test command (e.g. curl) you can copy. This is optional and needs the network.

Common Use Cases

Looking up a single code. You see 403 or 503 in a log or in the browser. You type the number and click Explain Status. You read the summary, impact, and action. You then know what the code means and what to check first.

Debugging a redirect. A URL is redirecting in a way you did not expect. You run a request and see 301 then 302 then 200. You paste that chain into the tool. You get an explanation for each step and can compare 301 vs 302 (permanent vs temporary) and see why the final response is 200.

Support and docs. A user or colleague sends a screenshot or paste of an error line that includes a status code. You paste it into the tool, get the meaning and recommendation, and can explain what went wrong and what to do next. When working with related formats, decoding JSON Web Tokens can be a useful part of the process.

API and integration work. An API returns 422 or 429. You look up the code to understand validation failure vs rate limiting. You read the recommendation (e.g. check payload, use Retry-After) and apply it in your client or backend.

Using the AI analysis. You have a code or a short context and want debugging hints and a curl command to reproduce the request. You run the explanation first, then click Analyze in the AI section. You use the suggested fixes and the test command to verify the fix.

How to Use This Tool (Step-by-Step)

1. Open the tool. You will see a text area and quick access buttons for common codes.
2. Enter a code or text. Type a single code (e.g. 404), paste a response line (e.g. HTTP/2 503), or paste several codes (e.g. 301 302 200). You can use spaces, arrows, or newlines between codes. The tool will find all three-digit HTTP status codes in the range 100–599.
3. Or click a quick code. Click one of the buttons (200, 301, 302, 400, 401, 403, 404, 500, 502, 503) to fill the input and show the explanation for that code immediately.
4. Click Explain Status. The tool parses the input and shows one card per detected code. If no valid codes are found you get a message; check the format and try again.
5. Read each card. For each code you see the phrase, category, What It Means (summary), Impact, and Action (recommendation). Use these to understand and fix the issue.
6. If you entered multiple codes, check the Redirect Chain line at the top. It shows the order of codes. Then read each card in order to follow the redirect or error path.
7. Use the AI analysis if you want. Scroll to the AI Deep Analysis section and click Analyze. Wait for the expert analysis, recommended fixes, and optional test command. Copy the command if you need to reproduce the request.
8. To start over, clear the input with the clear button and enter a new code or paste. You can also type in the text area again and click Explain Status for a new result.

Reference: HTTP Status Code Categories

The tool uses these categories for every code it shows. Codes with full descriptions in the tool include common ones in 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, and 5xx. Other codes in the same ranges get the same category and a short generic note. In some workflows, checking your IP address is a relevant follow-up operation.

Reference: Quick Access Codes in the Tool

These are the codes available from the quick access buttons. The tool also has detailed entries for 201, 204, 304, 307, 308, 422, 429, and 504; enter them in the text area to see their explanations.

Tips, Limitations & Best Practices

The tool only recognizes three-digit numbers that look like HTTP status codes (1xx to 5xx). It extracts them from the text you paste. If you paste a long log line, only the status code parts are used; the rest is ignored. Paste the code or a short line for the clearest result.

Not every code has a custom description. The tool has detailed text for a fixed set of common codes (e.g. 200, 201, 204, 301, 302, 304, 307, 308, 400, 401, 403, 404, 422, 429, 500, 502, 503, 504). For any other valid code in the 1xx–5xx range the tool shows the category and a generic message that it is custom or undocumented. For those you may need to check your framework or API docs. For related processing needs, looking up IP addresses handles a complementary task.

Input length is limited. Very long pastes are truncated and you get a notice. Keep the input to the relevant line or codes so the tool and the optional AI get a clear context.

The AI analysis is optional and runs on a backend. It needs network access and may be subject to usage limits. If it fails you still have the built-in explanation, impact, and recommendation for each code. Use the AI for extra debugging hints and the test command, not as the only source of truth.

Use the quick access buttons when you look up the same codes often. Use the text area when you have a response line or a chain from logs or a tool. For redirect chains paste the full sequence so you see each step explained.