Have you ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes when you click a link or type a website address? It feels like magic\u2014and honestly, it’s not that different from sending a message at Hogwarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To understand how exactly this works, let\u2019s imagine your web browser (like Chrome or Safari) is Harry Potter<\/strong>, and the website’s server is the Hogwarts Library<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Harry wants a book, he sends an owl with a note. What happens next is exactly how the web communicates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An HTTP Response<\/strong> is the package of data the server (the waiter) brings back to your browser (the customer) after processing your request. or If we have to describe simply, the HTTP Response<\/strong> is the owl flying back to Harry with Madam Pince’s reply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When Harry opens the envelope, it contains three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n but now, the question arises, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Madam Pince, the Hogwarts librarian, is far too busy to write long letters to every student. Instead, she uses a simple 3-digit shorthand code<\/strong> right at the top of her note to instantly tell Harry how his request went. These 3-digit numbers are HTTP Status Codes<\/strong>. The very first digit tells Harry what kind of situation he is dealing with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general we can define it as- An HTTP Response Code<\/em> (often called a status code) is a 3-digit number included right at the top of that response. It acts as a universal shorthand that instantly tells your browser exactly how the request went.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1xx Informational codes<\/strong> are the web’s way of saying, “I heard you, I’m working on it, so don’t close the page yet!”<\/strong> If we have to explain more clearly, Putting on the Sorting Hat<\/strong>. It doesn’t sort you instantly; it sits on your head muttering, “Hmm, let’s see… where to put you…”<\/em> while you wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple 1xx status codes<\/strong>, they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This happens in two parts. The browser asks if it’s okay to send a huge file, and the server says go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Browser’s Request:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Server’s Interim Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (After this, the browser immediately starts transmitting the actual video file data).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This code is used when a browser wants to upgrade a standard web connection to a permanent, live WebSocket connection (like for a chat room).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Browser’s Request:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Server’s Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (The HTTP connection is now closed, and a live WebSocket channel is officially open).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an interim response sent back by the server during a very long task to stop the browser from timing out while it waits for the final results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Server’s Interim Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (The server sends this, keeps working on the heavy task behind the scenes, and will send a This tells the browser to start downloading critical styles and fonts while the server takes its time building the actual HTML webpage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Server’s Interim Response:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (While the browser goes off to fetch main.css<\/strong>, the server finishes gathering database data and will send the standard 200 OK<\/strong> code with the full HTML right after).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2xx status codes<\/strong> mean your browser\u2019s request was successfully received, understood, and accepted by the server.<\/strong> Think of this as successfully casting a spell on the first try. You swish and flick your wand, say “Wingardium Leviosa<\/strong>,”<\/em> and the feather instantly floats into the air exactly like you wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple 2xx status codes<\/strong>, they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard “success<\/strong>” code<\/strong>. The server found what you asked for and handed it over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your request succeeded, and a brand-new resource was built on the server <\/strong>because of it (like a user successfully signing up<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The server accepted your request, but it is going to process it in the background later<\/strong>. It hasn’t finished yet, but it’s queued up<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The request was completely successful<\/strong>, but the server doesn’t need to send any data or text back in the body<\/strong> (common for hitting a “Delete” button).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The server tells the browser to completely clear or clear out whatever form the user is currently looking at<\/strong> (like resetting a registration form back to blank).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The browser only asked for a chunk of a massive file<\/strong> (like a specific 10-second slice of a long video), and the server is delivering just that specific piece.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Used in WebDAV environments<\/strong>. If you send a request that performs multiple distinct operations at once<\/strong>, this response bundles several different individual status codes inside an XML body<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Used inside a Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The server is sending a modified version of a cached resource<\/strong>. Instead of sending the entire webpage, it only sends the exact edits<\/strong> (the deltas) that have changed since the last time you downloaded it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 3xx status codes<\/strong> mean that the resource you are looking for has moved<\/strong>, and your browser needs to take an extra step to go to a different address <\/strong>to find it. Think of this as the Moving Staircases<\/strong> at Hogwarts. You try to walk down a specific corridor to get to your classroom, but the staircase suddenly shifts gears mid-walk, forcing you to follow a completely different pathway to reach your final destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple 3xx status codes<\/strong>, they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The request has more than one possible response. The browser or user must choose which one they want<\/strong> (e.g., choosing between different video formats or language versions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The webpage has been permanently assigned a new URL.<\/strong> Any future requests should use the new link provided in the Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The webpage is temporarily living at a different URL<\/strong>, but it will return <\/strong>to its old address in the future. The browser should keep using the original URL<\/strong> next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a HTTP response?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What is an HTTP status code?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the various Status Codes we see, in our day-to-day life?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1XX: Informational Responses<\/strong> –<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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POST \/upload-video HTTP\/1.1\nHost: website.com\nContent-Length: 2147483648\nExpect: 100-continue<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 100 Continue<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
101 Switching Protocols<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nGET \/chat HTTP\/1.1\nHost: website.com\nUpgrade: websocket\nConnection: Upgrade<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 101 Switching Protocols\nUpgrade: websocket\nConnection: Upgrade<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
102 Processing<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 102 Processing<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n200 OK<\/code> <\/strong>code several seconds later when the job is actually finished).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
103 Early Hints<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 103 Early Hints\nLink: <\/styles\/main.css>; rel=preload; as=style\nLink: <\/fonts\/inter.woff2>; rel=preload; as=font<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n2XX: Successful Responses-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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200 OK<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 200 OK\nContent-Type: text\/html\n\n<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html><body><h1>Welcome to Hogwarts<\/h1><\/body><\/html><\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
201 Created<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 201 Created\nLocation: \/users\/harry_potter\nContent-Type: application\/json\n\n{\"status\": \"User profile successfully created\"}<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
202 Accepted<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 202 Accepted\nContent-Type: application\/json\n\n{\"task_id\": \"9\u00be\", \"status\": \"Video processing has started in the background\"}<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
204 No Content<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 204 No Content<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
205 Reset Content<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 205 Reset Content<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
206 Partial Content<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 206 Partial Content\nContent-Range: bytes 0-1023\/2048\nContent-Length: 1024<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
207 Multi-Status<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 207 Multi-Status\nContent-Type: text\/xml\n\n<multistatus xmlns=\"DAV:\">\n <response>\n <href>\/file1.txt<\/href>\n <status>HTTP\/1.1 200 OK<\/status>\n <\/response>\n<\/multistatus><\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
208 Already Reported<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n207 Multi-Status<\/code> response to tell the browser, “Hey, I already processed and listed this specific folder path earlier in this message, so I’m not going to repeat myself.<\/strong>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<response>\n <href>\/duplicate-folder\/<\/href>\n <status>HTTP\/1.1 208 Already Reported<\/status>\n<\/response><\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
226 IM Used<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 226 IM Used\nDelta-Base: \"v1-cache-hash\"<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n3XX: Redirection Messages-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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300 Multiple Choices<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 300 Multiple Choices\nContent-Type: application\/json\n\n{\n \"choices\": [\n {\"lang\": \"en\", \"url\": \"\/en\/hogwarts\"},\n {\"lang\": \"fr\", \"url\": \"\/fr\/hogwarts\"}\n ]\n}<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
301 Moved Permanently<\/strong><\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nLocation<\/code> header<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 301 Moved Permanently\nLocation: https:\/\/new-hogwarts-site.com\/library<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n
302 Found<\/code> (Temporary Redirect)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHTTP\/1.1 302 Found\nLocation: https:\/\/temporary-classroom.com\/dada<\/strong><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n