Say it like this
- What status code did you get back?
- The endpoint is returning a 404 status code
- We need to handle different status codes gracefully
Use it at work
Debugging
- What status code are you getting?
- It returns a 500 status code.
API design
- Return a 404 status code if the user doesn't exist.
- Use 201 for created, not 200.
Monitoring
- Let's alert on 5xx status codes.
- 4xx status codes went up after the release.
Don't say this
Status codes are numbers (200, 404, 500), not descriptive words like success or failure.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your API is failing. What do you say?
2. When a user tries to access a deleted page, the server should _______ a 404 status code.
3. Which sentence uses status code incorrectly?
4. Rewrite using status code: The server said the page you are looking for does not exist, with error number 404.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"What status code did you get back?"
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More about status code
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"We fixed the login issue; the API is now returning a 200 status code instead of 401."
- in a code review
"Make sure you check the status code before parsing the response body."
- in a debugging session
"The client received a 429 status code, which means we're hitting the rate limit."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Status code is only for HTTP responses or similar protocol responses. Do not use it to mean a general code review or testing status.
- ✕I need to status code this endpoint.✓I need to check what status code this endpoint returns.
Status code is a noun that you receive or check, not a verb you perform on something.
- ✕All status codes starting with 2 mean the request failed.✓All status codes starting with 2 mean the request succeeded.
2xx codes indicate success; 4xx and 5xx indicate errors.
Other forms(2)
- status code noun
"The server responded with a 404 status code."
- status codes noun (plural)
"Different status codes indicate different outcomes of an HTTP request."
Often used with(4)
- return a status code · Used when describing what a server sends back to a client
- check the status code · Used when examining the response from an API or web request
- handle status codes · Used when writing logic to respond to different status code values
- status code 200, 404, 500 · Always used with the specific three-digit number
Similar words(2)
- HTTP status code · More formal and specific; clarifies that it is related to HTTP protocol
- response code · Less common; refers to any code sent in a response
Questions(4)
- What does status code mean in software engineering?
- A status code is a three-digit number sent by a server in response to an HTTP request. It communicates the outcome of the request: success (2xx), redirection (3xx), client error (4xx), or server error (5xx). Status codes are a standard way for servers and clients to communicate about request outcomes.
- What are the most common status codes?
- The most common status codes are: 200 (OK—request succeeded), 201 (Created—resource was created), 400 (Bad Request—client error), 401 (Unauthorized—authentication required), 403 (Forbidden—permission denied), 404 (Not Found—resource does not exist), 500 (Internal Server Error), and 503 (Service Unavailable). These appear constantly in development and debugging.
- How do you use status code in a sentence at work?
- Example sentences include: We got a 404 status code, meaning the endpoint does not exist, or Check the status code to determine whether the request succeeded. You typically use it when discussing API responses, debugging issues, or reviewing logs.
- Is status code formal or informal?
- Status code is neutral and technical. It is used in both casual team conversations and formal documentation. It is professional and appropriate for all workplace contexts in tech.
