HTTP 200 Status Code

What Is A HTTP 200 Status Code?

A HTTP 200 Status Code is a server response code that means the server successfully processed the requested files.

Put Simply: The HTTP 200 OK status code means the request was successful.

Let me explain:

Think of HTTP requests as a language. Web browsers (like Chrome, Safari and Edge) talk to servers using HTTP requests.

They “request” files from the server to display on your screen.

These requests include:

  • The URL address
  • The type of request
  • Extra details, like URL parameters or cookies from your browser

The server processes the request and sends back the webpage’s data. Your browser then takes this data and displays the website on your screen.

This whole process happens in just a few seconds.

When the server processes the request successfully, it sends back an HTTP status code 200 first to let the browser know everything went well. A few seconds later, all the files arrive.

Simple, right?

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SEO Best Practices For HTTP Status Codes

Every page on your website should send back an HTTP 200 OK status code.

If they don’t, your site visitors won’t be able to access the content.

Follow these best practices to ensure you get an HTTP 200 OK status code every time:

1. Monitor Server Responses

Keep an eye on your server logs to make sure you’re getting HTTP 200 status codes for every website page.

This way, you’ll catch any issues as they pop up.

For a hassle-free solution, use the free version of Ahrefs’ Site Audit tool.

Simply add your website and let Ahrefs do the heavy lifting.

2. Avoid Too Many Redirects

Minimise the use of 301 redirects and 302 redirects to reduce the risk of getting a 404 error status code.

Excessive redirects can also slow down your site and confuse search engines.

Use redirects only when you need to. This includes fixing a broken link, permanently moving a page or migrating your website.

Remember: Whenever you add redirects, make sure that you update all of your internal links.

They should point to the new URL, not the old redirected URL.

3. Watch For Redirect Chains

A redirect chain happens when a URL redirects to another URL, which then redirects again, creating a “chain” of redirects.

Here’s why that’s a problem:

Users get frustrated waiting for multiple redirects to finish, hurting your website’s user experience experience.

Plus, search engines can get confused with all the redirects, which can tank your rankings. While Googlebot can follow up to 10 redirects, you’re ultimately wasting your crawl budget.

Bottom line: Redirect chains are bad news. Identify and fix them ASAP.

4. Fix Broken Pages Quickly

Broken pages return 404 error status codes.

This essentially means that the page used to exist but is no longer there.

Here’s the problem:

Broken pages and links are really bad for SEO. Google wants all users to have a good user experience on any website they rank in the SERPs.

That’s why you must quickly fix any pages that return a 404 error code.

This will ensure a better user experience and help maintain your site’s credibility with search engines like Google.

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