What Is a 500 Status Code?
The 500 status code, officially defined in RFC7231 Section 6.6.1, stands for Internal Server Error. This is a generic HTTP response code indicating that the server has encountered an unexpected condition that prevents it from fulfilling the client’s request. In simple terms, the request reached the server successfully, but something went wrong on the server side while processing it.
Unlike client-side errors (such as 400 Bad Request or 404 Not Found), a 500 error signals that the issue is entirely on the server. However, the specific cause is not exposed in the response — it’s deliberately vague to avoid revealing internal logic or vulnerabilities.
This status code can apply to any HTTP method — whether you’re making a
GET,POST,PUT, orDELETErequest — and typically arises when server-side scripts, applications, or configurations fail during execution.
Example Breakdown:
Imagine you request https://example.com/contact-form and the page is powered by a backend PHP script. If that script contains a syntax error, runs out of memory, or calls an unavailable database, the server will not return a helpful webpage. Instead, it responds with:
HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error
Content-Type: text/html
This is the server’s way of saying:
“Something broke internally. I can’t fulfill this request right now.”
What Does a 500 Status Code Mean?
A 500 Internal Server Error means that the server encountered an unexpected problem that prevented it from completing the request. It doesn’t tell the client what went wrong—only that something failed on the server’s side.
Here’s how it typically plays out:
- A user visits a website or submits a form.
- The browser sends a request to the server (e.g., asking for data or loading a page).
- The server tries to process the request using scripts, databases, and backend logic.
- Something fails internally—maybe a misconfigured script, a missing file, or an exhausted resource.
- The server responds with a
500status code to let the client know it couldn’t complete the request.
Unlike 4xx errors (which indicate client-side problems), a 500 error suggests server-side failure, which might be temporary or the result of flawed code, plugins, or configurations.
Key points to understand:
- The error is not the fault of the client.
- The server can’t provide detailed information about what went wrong (intentionally, for security reasons).
- It can happen in any environment: Apache, NGINX, Node.js, WordPress, etc.
This makes 500 errors especially frustrating—they’re generic and often require backend access or logs to diagnose properly.
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Common Causes of 500 Status Codes
The HTTP 500 status code typically signals that the web server encountered an issue it couldn’t recover from or interpret properly. While the exact cause isn’t disclosed in the response, developers and administrators can trace it to a few frequent culprits:
1. Permissions Errors
Incorrect file or folder permissions can block server scripts from executing properly. For example:
PHP files may lack execute permissions.
Uploads or logs may be written to folders with restricted access.
2. Corrupt or Broken .htaccess File
For Apache servers, a malformed .htaccess file can lead to syntax errors or conflicts in URL rewriting, caching, or security rules. Even a single incorrect directive can return a 500 error.
3. Exceeding PHP Memory Limits
When a PHP script attempts to use more memory than allocated (e.g., due to large file uploads or poorly optimized code), the server halts execution and responds with a 500.
4. Faulty Plugins or Themes (WordPress and CMSs)
In CMS platforms like WordPress, third-party plugins and themes often include custom code. Bugs, outdated components, or incompatibilities can disrupt server execution.
5. Server Configuration Mistakes
Errors in server config files like php.ini, nginx.conf, or .htaccess (as mentioned) can prevent services from loading properly.
6. Script Timeouts or Fatal Errors
If a script loops indefinitely, makes too many database queries, or hits an unhandled exception, it may time out or crash, triggering a 500 response.
How to Fix a 500 Status Code Error on Your Website
Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error requires identifying the root cause, which usually involves checking server configurations, application code, or CMS components. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Deactivate or Uninstall Plugins or Themes
If you recently installed a new plugin or theme—especially on platforms like WordPress—it might be the source of the error:
Access your server via FTP or cPanel.
Rename the plugin or theme folder to disable it.
Reload your site to check if the issue disappears.
If the error resolves, replace or update the faulty component.
2. Enable Debugging (e.g., WP Debugging for WordPress)
Use debugging tools to log and view errors:
In WordPress, add this to your
wp-config.php:define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);The generated log file (
debug.log) can help pinpoint faulty lines of code or plugin conflicts.
3. Check PHP Configuration and File Permissions
Ensure PHP scripts and files have the right permissions:
Directories:
755Files:
644
Also, make sure your server has sufficient memory by editingphp.ini:
memory_limit = 256M
4. Review and Restore .htaccess File
A misconfigured .htaccess file can break your server. Try:
Renaming the file temporarily (e.g.,
.htaccess_old)Reloading the site
If it works, generate a fresh
.htaccess(e.g., via WordPress settings → Permalinks → Save)
5. Verify New Software or Updates
If you installed new software (e.g., a CMS, database engine, or module):
Double-check installation logs
Ensure no steps failed silently
Reinstall or contact the software vendor if needed
Does a 500 Status Code Affect SEO?
Yes — a 500 Internal Server Error can negatively impact SEO if not addressed promptly. Here’s how:
1. Search Engines May Deprioritize Your Page
When Google or Bing encounters a 500 error during crawling, they interpret the page as temporarily inaccessible or broken. If the issue persists, the crawler may:
Stop indexing the page
Drop it from search results entirely
Reduce its crawl frequency
2. Loss of Link Equity
If a high-authority page consistently returns a 500 error, any backlinks pointing to it become ineffective. Over time, this can reduce the site’s overall domain authority.
3. Reduced User Trust
Users encountering a 500 error are unlikely to return. A high bounce rate and low dwell time from such issues can lead to ranking drops indirectly.
4. Impacts on Core Web Vitals
Search engines increasingly value user experience. A broken page with slow response time or no content due to server errors impacts page experience signals, influencing ranking.
How to Limit the SEO Impact:
Set up monitoring tools like Google Search Console, UptimeRobot, or Pingdom.
Use custom error pages to explain the issue and guide users.
Fix errors quickly — if a 500 lasts hours or days, it sends a poor signal to crawlers.
500 CODE REFERENCES (Detailed Breakdown)
The 500 Internal Server Error status code is widely supported across programming languages and frameworks. Here’s how it’s defined:
| Language / Framework | Reference |
|---|---|
| Rails | :internal_server_error |
| Go | http.StatusInternalServerError |
| Symfony (PHP) | Response::HTTP_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| Python 2 | httplib.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| Python 3+ | http.client.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| Python 3.5+ | http.HTTPStatus.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| .NET | HttpStatusCode.InternalServerError |
| Rust | http::StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| Java | HttpURLConnection.HTTP_INTERNAL_ERROR |
| Apache Core | HttpStatus.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR |
| Angular | HttpStatusCode.InternalServerError |
These references help developers across different tech stacks identify and handle the 500 error correctly in their backend logic or error-handling layers.
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