Google never fails to amuse us with its new updates. This time Google is going to publish an SEO guide to HTTP status codes, network issues, and DNS Errors. Let us see more about it in the current article.
Contents
The Search Of Coveted Document Finally Concludes
In a much-anticipated development around the search performance, Google has released a comprehensive guide regarding it.
It expounds on various details as to how HTTP status codes impact the overall Google search performance. Network and DNS errors cannot be overlooked either since they are equivalent to status codes affecting performance.

You can access the recently unveiled document within the documentation area of Google Search Central.
Every HTTP status code carries a distinct meaning altogether, but the eventual outcome of the related request might be the same. For instance, there are undoubtedly umpteen status codes that indicate redirection; nonetheless, their overall outcome is identical.
Network and DNS errors usually have a swift, adverse impact in the presence of URLs in a Google Search. Additionally, Google bots view network timeout, reset of connection, as well as DNS errors equivalent to unfavorable 5xx server errors.
See also: Why Do Search Rankings Fluctuate? – Here Are The Possible Reasons
Debug Network Errors
To debug network errors, a slew of measures have to be taken into account. Keeping in mind that the errors may pop up way before the server could even respond.
In this specific case, no status code could indicate the reasons for such errors. Moreover, it will be a daunting task indeed if you decide to diagnose these errors.
Google had not expounded on the HTTP status codes or network and DNS errors previously. It was a dire need to address so that users could have an unbiased view of the gap that warranted precise consideration.
It is finally addressed holistically, and you no longer have to rely on limited sources of information. With the official release of a comprehensive guide, you can dive deep into ramping up the performance of your website.
Factors that subtly impacted and even posed a hurdle to your website from gaining significant momentum can be studied now.
The available document can facilitate you in a plethora of ways to figure out the best for your website and the factors that impact the searches. The document is explained in fragmented form to make it convenient for the reader to effortlessly understand and imbibe the details.
The Three Predominant Parts That The Document Is Broken Down Into Encompasses
The three predominant parts are as follows:
HTTP Status Codes
- 2xx codes (success)
- 3xx codes (redirects)
HTTP status codes - 4xx codes (client errors)
- 5xx codes (server errors)
Network errors
DNS errors
What Makes The Latest Development Unprecedented?
Google is set to try as many as ten hops for your redirects in the latest slew of measures. It will subsequently consider the URL with a prompt redirect error in Search Console.
Furthermore, Google assures a firm guarantee from 200 status codes regarding the page going directly to the indexing pipeline. However, one shortcoming will be in the form of whether the indexing system will successfully index the page or not.
Google has also compared between 301 and 302 redirects. Google has overtly acknowledged that 301 redirect is significantly a strong signal.
It further indicates that the redirect target will undeniably be canonical. On the contrary, Google considers 302 redirects as a weak signal.