Which HTTP status code indicates the requested resource does not exist?

Which HTTP status code indicates the requested resource does not exist?

• A. OK - The request was successful
• B. Not Found - The requested resource does not exist
• C. Forbidden - Access denied
• D. Created - The resource was created

Answer: (B)

When a client asks for a resource at a certain URL and that resource isn’t present, the server signals this with a Not Found response. This status code, commonly shown as 404, tells you that there’s no resource at the requested path. It’s the best fit because it communicates that the resource you’re looking for doesn’t exist at that location. For comparison: 200 OK means the request succeeded and the resource was returned; 403 Forbidden means the resource exists but you’re not allowed to access it; 201 Created means the request resulted in a new resource being created. If a resource was moved or temporarily redirected, a redirect status might be used, and if it was permanently removed, 410 Gone could be used, but 404 is the standard signal for “not found.”

When a client asks for a resource at a certain URL and that resource isn’t present, the server signals this with a Not Found response. This status code, commonly shown as 404, tells you that there’s no resource at the requested path. It’s the best fit because it communicates that the resource you’re looking for doesn’t exist at that location.

For comparison: 200 OK means the request succeeded and the resource was returned; 403 Forbidden means the resource exists but you’re not allowed to access it; 201 Created means the request resulted in a new resource being created. If a resource was moved or temporarily redirected, a redirect status might be used, and if it was permanently removed, 410 Gone could be used, but 404 is the standard signal for “not found.”