HTTP 500

Internal Server Error

Server Error

What does "HTTP 500 Internal Server Error" mean?

Plain-English Meaning

Something went wrong on the server, but the server can't (or won't) tell you what specifically. A generic error catch-all.

Common Causes

Bug in server-side code (PHP error, uncaught exception)
Database connection failure
Missing dependencies
Permission issues on server files

What Users Can Do

Reload the page. Try again later. If persistent, contact the site owner.

What Developers Can Do

Check server error logs. Look for exceptions, database errors, or resource exhaustion. Never show stack traces to users in production.

Related Status Codes

502
Bad Gateway 503
Service Unavailable 504
Gateway Timeout

Seeing HTTP 500 on a specific site?

Check if the site is experiencing this error for everyone or just you.

Check Website Status