What Is 502 Status Code? Full Guide to 502 Bad Gateway Error

When you are on the internet, a 502 Bad Gateway Error can disrupt your whole browsing experience. It is one of the most frequent errors that the user can experience. While it can be a little technical or complex, the 502 status code essentially means that one server received a bad response from another server. The disruption in connection disrupts the site for a while. 

For both users and site creators, knowing what makes a 502 error happen is what leads to the best connection and smoothest experience. In this blog, we will learn about the 502 Bad Gateway error, its causes and effects, and the best solutions to fix the error. 

What Is a 502 Status Code?

502 Bad Gateway is an HTTP status code that means that one server on the internet received an invalid response from another server. It happens when the server acting as a gateway or proxy receives an invalid response from the upstream server or no response at all. In a bad gateway, there is a barrier in the communication, and the page is not able to load fully.

In simpler terms:

• A gateway or proxy server received an invalid response from the upstream server it accessed to fulfill the request.
• The response from the upstream server was invalid, incomplete, or empty.
• It is for the gateway/proxy server, which triggers a 502 Bad Gateway error message.

This error shows that there has been improper communication between the servers. It is not a client-side ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌issue.

Common Causes of 502 Bad Gateway Error

Several reasons may trigger a 502 status code. The most common include:

1. Server Overload

Too many users visiting a website at the same time may cause the server to become busy and can’t respond.

2. DNS Issues

Incorrect DNS information or slow DNS propagation can cause the link between servers to be broken.

3. Firewall Misconfigurations

A strict firewall may block requests between servers, leading to invalid responses.

4. Faulty Code or Plugins

On CMS-based platforms such as WordPress, a malfunctioning theme or plugin is the top cause of temporary 502 errors.

5.Hosting Problems

Web hosting problems, like outages or server maintenance, can result in the error.

6. Network Errors

Temporary network failures between servers can break the communication chain.

7. CDN Errors

In the case that a CDN like Cloudflare or Akamai goes down, the gateway can also give a 502.

How 502 Errors Impact Websites

A 502 Bad Gateway error can negatively affect:

• User Experience: Visitors can bounce at any time, decreasing engagement.

• SEO Rankings: If errors persist, the search engine may delist or de-index the pages temporarily.

• Sales and Conversion: There is financial risk for the e-commerce site owner, and they need to have their site back as soon as possible.
• Reliability: A string of 502 errors gives the impression that a website is down permanently.

How to Fix a 502 Bad Gateway Error?

Fixes differ if you are a user or server provider. 

Fixes for User

If you are a user and facing a 502 error, you can try some of the following quick fixes:

1. Reload the Page: Refreshing a page is known to clear cache issues from the server side.
2. Clear your browser cache: Cached files could lead to conflicts when loading.
3. Use a Different Browser: Sometimes, the browser itself is the problem. 
4. Restart your device: Try resetting your network.
5. Check Site Status: Visit a site like Down Detector to see if the website is also down for other people.

Also Read: What Is 422 Status Code

Fixes for Website Owner/Developer 

If you manage or develop a website, these steps can help:

• Check Server Logs: Check the server logs to see where the bad response is coming from.

• Reboot Web Server: Reboot the web server to make sure it refreshes your web server.

• Proper DNS Configuration: Make sure the DNS records are correct and propagated.

• Turn off Bad Plugins: Using your site via FTP, disable all your plugins or switch to a default theme.

• Test Server Connectivity: Ping and traceroute to the server upstream.

• Scale Up Server Resources: Handle more traffic with a plan upgrade, or some other kind of scaling solution.

• Verify Firewall and Security Tools: Confirm your firewall is not blocking your server communications.
• Clear CDN Cache: If you are a Cloudflare user, clear the cache and check rate-limiting.

Also Read: What Is 409 Status Code

Conclusion 

The 502 Bad Gateway is one of the most common temporary server errors. To conclude, it is a sort of error that occurs when a server sends a bad response to another server and prevents a web page from being loaded. Users can resolve it with a couple of simple steps and enjoy a smooth server running.

With IndeedSEO, you can learn about this error and the best prevention techniques. You can enjoy hassle-free browsing and have a reliable website with IndeedSEO’s expert services.