Question 1

What is an HTTP status code?

Accepted Answer

It is the three digit answer a server gives for every request. Codes starting with 2 mean success, 3 mean the URL redirects somewhere else, 4 mean the page cannot be served (for example 404 not found), and 5 mean the server itself failed.

Question 2

Do you follow redirects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We follow up to 10 redirects and show you every hop in the chain, so you can see where a URL starts and where it finally lands. Long chains slow crawlers down, so it is best to keep them to one hop.

Question 3

Why does a status code matter for SEO?

Accepted Answer

Search engines drop pages that keep returning 404 or 5xx errors, and they pass most ranking signals through 301 redirects but not through long or broken chains. Checking status codes is the fastest way to catch these problems.

Question 4

What is the difference between 301 and 302?

Accepted Answer

A 301 means the move is permanent and search engines transfer ranking signals to the new URL. A 302 means the move is temporary, so the original URL stays in the index. Use 301 for real moves and 302 only for short term redirects.

Question 5

Why does a URL fail here but open in my browser?

Accepted Answer

Some sites block requests that do not look like a normal browser, or they only work from certain networks. If the checker cannot reach a URL you can open, the site is likely blocking outside tools, which can also affect some crawlers.

HTTP Status Checker

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