Web & Performance
500 Internal Server Error
A 500 Internal Server Error is a generic HTTP status code indicating that the server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request. Unlike client errors (4xx), a 500 error means the problem is on the server side. The generic nature of this error makes it challenging to diagnose without access to server logs.
Symptoms
- Website showing "500 Internal Server Error" page
- API returning 500 status code with no useful error message
- Error occurring on specific pages or actions, not the entire site
- Intermittent 500 errors under high traffic load
Common Causes
- Application code throwing an unhandled exception
- PHP/Python/Node.js syntax error or runtime error
- Incorrect file permissions on server files
- Corrupted .htaccess file or server configuration
- Database connection failure or query timeout
- Server running out of memory or disk space
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
- 1
- 2
Check if site is down
Determine if the error is global or only for certain users.
Use Website Speed Test → - 3
Test server connectivity
Verify the server IP is reachable and responding on the correct port.
Use Port Scanner → - 4
Check server logs
Review application error logs, web server error logs (Apache/nginx), and system logs for the specific error.
- 5
Review recent changes
Identify any recent code deployments, configuration changes, or plugin updates that may have caused the issue.
Recommended Diagnostic Tools
Monitor HTTP Status
Get instant alerts when your website returns 5xx errors.