You make a request to the server. A page, a file, a piece of data. And you just get it back. Without error message, without detour.
In the background, the server sends along status code 200: everything worked out, here's what you asked for.
You don't usually see this code, which makes sense. It only stands out when something goes wrong. But 200 is the norm. The sign that everything is running smoothly.
What is the status code 200?
In short, the server received, processed and responded to your request properly. And that applies to anything. A page you open. A script that loads. An API call. Even a form you submit.
In technical terms, this status falls under the so-called 2xx-success codes, a series of codes indicating that an action has succeeded. The 200 is the default in this regard. It is returned on all kinds of requests, whether fetching a page, loading an image or sending data.
According to the official description of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a 200 code shows that the request was successful, and its meaning depends on the method used, such as GET or POST.
How do you recognize a 200 status?
Normally, you don't see this code on your screen. No pop-up, no notification. Everything just seems to work. But if you take a quick look under the hood, you can find it.
Open the browser tools. Chrome, Firefox, doesn't matter. Network tab. Reload the page. And there it is, in the "Status" column: 200 OK.
Are you working with APIs? In Postman or with curl you see that status too. At the top usually. And if you're using WordPress with REST API or webhooks, for example, you may see it in your logs there as well.
When will you get the 200 status code?
Virtually every time you have a successful interaction with a Web site, the 200 code plays a role in the background. That applies to opening pages, fetching scripts and style sheets, as well as sending forms or executing API requests. In all these cases, 200 simply means: succeeded.
Depending on the method, the code has just a different nuance. In a GET request, it means that the requested content has been returned. In a POST request, it lets you know that the server has received and processed the data.
Why is it useful to know this status code?
You might think: if everything works, why should I delve into it? But precisely because the 200 state is so basic, it helps you gain insight into how your site or system functions.
Suppose you use an uptime monitoring tool. That one checks on a regular basis to see if your site returns a 200 code. If it doesn't, that could indicate downtime or an error. It works the same way with API integrations: if an external service expects a 200 but gets something else back, the integration stops.
The 200 status is also valuable in debugging or performance analysis. In tools like PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix, you can see exactly which elements load well and which don't, based on the status codes returned.
How can you check status codes yourself?
There are several ways to see what status codes your site or server is using. If you want to run a technical scan, you can use a tool like Screaming Frog SEO Spider use. That one lets you crawl your entire website and shows for each page what status is returned.
If you want a broader overview, for example for SEO audits, you can also work with platforms such as Ahrefs or SEMrush. Both provide clear reports showing the HTTP status of each URL. Useful if you quickly want to know if everything is going well, or if there is a redirect or error message somewhere.
For smaller checks, you can also use a browser extension such as Redirect Path use. This allows you to see immediately, without opening the developer tools, what status a page returns as soon as you visit it. Especially useful if you just want to quickly check something.
Summary
The 200 status code Is a confirmation that all is well. No fuss, no extra explanation. The request is received, processed, and the result returned. Quiet, reliable and always there.
You don't see it, but it is essential. For monitoring. For debugging. For understanding how your Web site or application is performing.
And do you want to make sure your WordPress site is really fast, stable and responsive with a 200? Then Surver is the right company for you. We make sure the basics are right, so you can continue to build on confidence.
