HTTP 200 OK vs 404 Not Found
HTTP 200 (OK) is a 2xx Success response, while 404 (Not Found) is a 4xx Client Error response. 200 indicates that the request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only. In contrast, 404 means that the server cannot find the requested resource. The URL may be wrong, the resource may have been deleted, or it may never have existed.
Description
The request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only.
When You See It
The most common HTTP response — indicates the request was processed successfully.
How to Fix
No fix needed. The request succeeded as expected.
Description
The server cannot find the requested resource. The URL may be wrong, the resource may have been deleted, or it may never have existed.
When You See It
When a URL is mistyped, a page has been deleted, or an API endpoint doesn't exist.
How to Fix
Verify the URL is correct. Check for typos, case sensitivity, and trailing slashes.
Key Differences
200 is a 2xx Success response, while 404 is a 4xx Client Error response.
HTTP 200: The request succeeded. The meaning depends on the HTTP method: GET returns the resource, POST reports the action result, HEAD returns headers only.
HTTP 404: The server cannot find the requested resource. The URL may be wrong, the resource may have been deleted, or it may never have existed.
You encounter 200 when the most common HTTP response — indicates the request was processed successfully.
You encounter 404 when when a URL is mistyped, a page has been deleted, or an API endpoint doesn't exist.
When to Use Which
For 200 (OK): No fix needed. The request succeeded as expected. For 404 (Not Found): Verify the URL is correct. Check for typos, case sensitivity, and trailing slashes.