HTTP Status Codes and Authentication - DevTools

Explore HTTP authentication types like Digest and Form-Based, and understand common HTTP response codes (1xx, 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx) for web development.

HTTP Security and Status Codes Reference

HTTP Authentication Types

Understanding different HTTP authentication methods is crucial for securing web applications. Here are some common types:

  • Digest Authentication

    This method uses the htdigest utility. It's more secure than Basic Authentication as it involves a challenge-response mechanism, but it can still be susceptible to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks if not implemented carefully with HTTPS.

  • Integrated Windows Authentication (IWA)

    Often used in corporate environments, IWA leverages existing Windows credentials. It's convenient for internal networks but will not function correctly when requests are routed through a proxy server.

  • Form-Based Authentication

    This is a common approach where users submit credentials via an HTML form. It's important to note that form-based authentication is not inherently encrypted. If not secured with HTTPS, the transmitted credentials can be intercepted, and implementations can sometimes be poorly secured.

HTTP Response Codes Reference

HTTP response codes are essential for understanding the outcome of a client's request to a server. They are categorized into five classes:

Informational Response Codes (1xx)

These codes indicate that the request was received and understood. The client should continue with the request.

  • 100 - Continue
  • 101 - Switching Protocols
  • 102 - Processing

Success Response Codes (2xx)

These codes indicate that the action was successfully received, understood, and accepted.

  • 200 - OK
  • 201 - Created
  • 202 - Accepted
  • 203 - Non-authoritative Information
  • 204 - No Content
  • 205 - Reset Content
  • 206 - Partial Content
  • 207 - Multi-status
  • 208 - Already Reported
  • 226 - IM Used
  • 250 - Low Storage Space

Redirection Response Codes (3xx)

These codes indicate that further action needs to be taken by the client to complete the request. They are used to redirect the client to a different resource.

  • 300 - Multiple Choices
  • 301 - Moved Permanently
  • 302 - Found
  • 303 - See Other
  • 304 - Not Modified
  • 305 - Use Proxy
  • 307 - Temporary Redirect
  • 308 - Permanent Redirect

Client Error Response Codes (4xx)

These codes indicate that the client seems to have erred. The request cannot be fulfilled.

  • 400 - Bad Request
  • 401 - Unauthorized
  • 402 - Payment Required
  • 403 - Forbidden
  • 404 - Not Found
  • 405 - Method Not Allowed
  • 406 - Not Acceptable
  • 407 - Proxy Authentication Required
  • 408 - Request Timeout
  • 409 - Conflict
  • 410 - Gone
  • 411 - Length Required
  • 412 - Precondition Failed
  • 413 - Payload Too Large
  • 414 - URI Too Long
  • 415 - Unsupported Media Type
  • 416 - Range Not Satisfiable
  • 417 - Expectation Failed
  • 418 - I'm a teapot
  • 421 - Misdirected Request
  • 422 - Unprocessable Entity
  • 423 - Locked
  • 424 - Failed Dependency
  • 425 - Too Early
  • 426 - Upgrade Required
  • 428 - Precondition Required
  • 429 - Too Many Requests
  • 431 - Request Header Fields Too Large
  • 451 - Unavailable For Legal Reasons

Server Error Response Codes (5xx)

These codes indicate that the server failed to fulfill an apparently valid request. The server is aware that it has erred.

  • 500 - Internal Server Error
  • 501 - Not Implemented
  • 502 - Bad Gateway
  • 503 - Service Unavailable
  • 504 - Gateway Timeout
  • 505 - HTTP Version Not Supported
  • 506 - Variant Also Negotiates
  • 507 - Insufficient Storage
  • 508 - Loop Detected
  • 509 - Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
  • 510 - Not Extended
  • 511 - Network Authentication Required
  • 550 - Permission Denied
  • 551 - Option Not Supported
  • 598 - Network Read Timeout Error
  • 599 - Network Connect Timeout Error

For more detailed information on HTTP specifications, refer to the official RFCs and MDN Web Docs.

External Resources: