What do HTTP error codes from 500 to 599 signify?

HTTP error codes ranging from 500 to 599 signify server-side errors. This indicates that the server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling a valid request. When a client receives a status code in this range, it means that while the request itself was appropriately formatted and sent by the client, the server failed to process it due to internal issues or misconfigurations.

Common examples of server-side errors include the well-known 500 Internal Server Error, which is a general error message when the server encounters an unexpected situation, and 503 Service Unavailable, indicating that the server cannot handle the request at that moment, often due to it being overloaded or down for maintenance.

Understanding these codes is crucial for developers and system administrators, as they help in diagnosing problems with web applications and services, guiding necessary troubleshooting steps to resolve the underlying issues causing the errors.