Server Response Codes
Server Response Codes tell search bots what happened when they try to visit your web pages. These three-digit numbers help search engines understand if a page loads correctly, has moved, or cannot be found. Technical SEO relies on proper response codes to guide search bots through your website effectively.
Response codes group by their first digit to show different types of results. 2xx codes mean success, 3xx codes handle redirects, 4xx codes indicate client errors, and 5xx codes show server problems. Many specific codes exist within each range to give detailed information about what happened during the request.
The most common codes include 200 for successful page loads, 301 for permanent redirects, and 404 for missing pages. Redirect Management uses 301 codes to send users and bots from old URLs to new ones without losing Link Equity. Search engines also watch for 500 server errors that indicate technical problems with your website. These codes directly impact Crawlability since bots decide whether to index pages based on response codes.
Poor response code setup hurts your Indexability because search engines may skip pages that return error codes. Site Structure planning should avoid broken links that create 404 errors. Regular monitoring helps catch response code issues before they damage your search rankings. Clean response codes help search bots navigate your site smoothly and index your content properly.