2xx Status Codes – Complete List

2xx status codes represent successful HTTP responses, indicating that a client’s request was received, understood, accepted, and processed successfully by the server. These status codes are fundamental to proper website functioning and form the backbone of normal web operations.

This guide explains all the 2xx status codes and their specific meanings in web communications.

What are 2xx Status Codes?

2xx status codes are success responses that confirm the client’s request has been successfully received, understood, and processed by the server. These codes indicate that everything is working as expected—the requested page exists, the form was submitted successfully, or the API call returned the expected data.

List of All 2xx Status Codes

Common 2xx Status Codes in Detail

200 OK

Indicates that the request has succeeded. This is the standard response for successful HTTP requests.

Example: When a user visits a webpage that exists and is accessible, the server returns a 200 OK status.

Technical Details:

• The most common success status code
• Includes a response body containing the requested resource
• Used for all standard GET requests to accessible pages
• The default response for successfully rendered webpages

Implementation Considerations:

• Should be the default response for accessible content
• Returned automatically by most web servers for existing resources
• Accompanied by appropriate content-type headers
• Can include caching headers to optimize performance

201 Created

Indicates that the request has been fulfilled and has resulted in one or more new resources being created.

Example: After a user submits a form to create a new account or post content, the server returns a 201 Created status.

Technical Details:

• Often includes a Location header pointing to the newly created resource
• Typically returned for successful POST requests that create resources
• Should include a representation of the created resource or a URI to it
• Common in REST API implementations

Implementation Considerations:

• Useful for providing feedback after resource creation
• Should include either the created resource or a reference to it
• Important for maintaining RESTful API standards
• Helps clients distinguish between resource creation and updates

204 No Content

Indicates that the server successfully processed the request but is not returning any content.

Example: After a user submits a form and no feedback is necessary, or after certain AJAX operations.

Technical Details:

• Response contains headers but no body content
• Often used for DELETE operations or form submissions not requiring feedback
• Useful for lightweight interactions where no response data is needed
• Reduces bandwidth usage compared to 200 OK with an empty body

Implementation Considerations:

• Suitable for AJAX requests that don’t require return data
• Helps reduce payload size for frequent API calls
• Should not be used when the client expects content
• Useful for “fire and forget” operations

206 Partial Content

Indicates that the server is delivering only part of the resource due to a range header sent by the client.

Example: When streaming video content or downloading large files in chunks.

Technical Details:

• Response to a GET request with a Range header
• Includes a Content-Range header specifying which part of the content is being delivered
• Essential for resumable downloads and media streaming
• Works in conjunction with HTTP range requests

Implementation Considerations:

• Critical for efficiently serving large media files
• Enables pause/resume functionality for downloads
• Reduces bandwidth usage for large file delivery
• Requires proper server configuration to support range requests

Implementation Best Practices

1. Proper Status Code Selection: Choose the most appropriate 2xx code for each type of successful response.
2. Complete Response Headers: Include all relevant headers with your 2xx responses, such as Content-Type, Content-Length, and caching directives.
3. Consistent Implementation: Maintain consistent status code usage across similar endpoints and resources.
4. REST API Compliance: Follow RESTful principles by using appropriate 2xx codes for different HTTP methods.
5. Error Handling: Even for successful operations, consider edge cases and ensure your application handles them appropriately.

Common 2xx Status Code Issues and Solutions

Issue #1: Inconsistent Status Codes for Similar Operations

Solution: Standardize your response codes based on the nature of the operation rather than the specific endpoint.

Issue #2: Returning 200 OK When 201 Created Would Be More Appropriate

Solution: For operations that create new resources, use 201 Created with appropriate Location headers.

Issue #3: Using 204 No Content for Responses That Should Include Content

Solution: Reserve 204 for operations where no response body is needed; use 200 OK with content for informative responses.

Issue #4: Not Supporting 206 Partial Content for Large Files

Solution: Configure your server to properly handle range requests for improved media delivery and download capabilities.

Monitoring and Maintaining Proper 2xx Status Codes

1. Regular Audits: Conduct periodic checks of your application to verify status codes.
2. Logging and Monitoring: Track unusual status code patterns in your application logs.
3. API Documentation: Document the expected status codes for each endpoint to maintain consistency.
4. Testing Frameworks: Include status code verification in your automated testing pipeline.
5. Server Configuration Reviews: Periodically review your server configuration to ensure it’s returning appropriate status codes.

FAQs

What’s the difference between 200 OK and 204 No Content? A 200 OK response includes content in the body, while a 204 No Content response indicates successful processing but intentionally includes no response body. From an SEO perspective, search engines can index 200 responses but cannot index 204 responses since there’s no content to index.

Can 2xx status codes affect my website’s search performance? Yes, particularly the distinction between 200 and 204. Pages that should be indexed must return 200 status codes with content. Using 204 for pages that should contain indexable content will prevent them from appearing in search results.

Should all of my website pages return 200 status codes? Most content pages should return 200, but there are legitimate use cases for other status codes. Actions that don’t return content may use 204, and resource creation should use 201.

How do I check which status codes my pages are returning? You can use tools like Chrome DevTools (Network tab), online HTTP header checkers, website crawling tools, or server logs to monitor status codes.

What’s the difference between 201 Created and 200 OK for form submissions? 201 Created specifically indicates that a new resource has been created as a result of the request, while 200 OK simply indicates successful processing. For form submissions that create new content, 201 is more semantically correct and provides clearer communication to clients.

How do partial content responses (206) benefit website performance? The 206 status code enables efficient delivery of large files by allowing clients to request only the parts they need. This improves load times for media content, enables pause/resume functionality, and reduces bandwidth usage—all factors that contribute to better user experience.