<- Glossary

What are common causes of HTTP 401 errors

HTTP 401 errors are one of the most common errors encountered by webmasters and web developers when trying to access a website or web page. They usually appear when a user attempts to access a page or resource for which they haven't been granted the proper authorization. Depending on the source of the error, there are several common causes of HTTP 401 errors.

Unauthorized Access

The most common cause of an HTTP 401 error is unauthorized access. This occurs when a user attempts to access a page or resource which they do not have the proper credentials or authorization to access. This could be due to a misconfigured server, or an incorrectly configured security setting on the server.

Incorrect Credentials

Another common cause of HTTP 401 errors is incorrect credentials. This occurs when a user attempts to access a page or resource with the wrong username or password. This could be due to a misconfigured server, or an incorrectly configured security setting on the server.

Access Denied

Another common cause of an HTTP 401 error is access denied. This occurs when a user attempts to access a page or resource that they do not have the proper authorization to access. This could be due to a misconfigured server, or an incorrectly configured security setting on the server.

Invalid URL

Another common cause of an HTTP 401 error is an invalid URL. This occurs when a user attempts to access a page or resource which does not exist. This could be due to an incorrectly typed URL, or an incorrectly configured security setting on the server.

Server Error

Finally, another common cause of an HTTP 401 error is a server error. This occurs when the server is unable to process the request due to an internal error. This could be due to a misconfigured server, or an incorrectly configured security setting on the server.

HTTP 401 errors can be a source of frustration for webmasters and web developers, but understanding the common causes can help in troubleshooting and resolving the issue. By understanding the source of the error, webmasters and web developers can take the necessary steps to resolve the issue and ensure that the website remains accessible and secure.

This glossary entry is part of the LoadForge Glossary. LoadForge provides load testing and stress tests for websites, APIs, databases and webservers. Sign up today to start testing.