Developer's Quick Reference Guide to HTTP Status Codes

Complete reference for 1xx, 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, and 5xx HTTP status codes in REST APIs.

⚡ Direct Answer / Key Takeaway
HTTP status codes tell API clients the result of their HTTP request: 2xx indicates success, 4xx indicates client error, and 5xx indicates server error.

Using correct HTTP status codes is essential for RESTful API design. This reference lists the standard status codes and their intended usage.

CodeStatus NameIntended API Usage
200OKSuccessful GET, PUT, or POST returning payload
201CreatedSuccessful POST resulting in resource creation
204No ContentSuccessful DELETE or action with empty response body
400Bad RequestInvalid JSON syntax, failed parameter validation
401UnauthorizedMissing or invalid authentication token
403ForbiddenAuthenticated user lacks permissions
404Not FoundTarget resource or endpoint URL does not exist
429Too Many RequestsRate limit quota exceeded
500Internal Server ErrorUnhandled backend application exception

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