500 (Internal Server Error)

HTTP status code 500 is a generic response from the server indicating that the server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.

This error does not specify the exact problem, but it signals that something has failed within the server itself: it could be caused by various problems, such as scripting errors, failures in server configuration, or problems with server resources such as depleted memory.

A 500 error is often a temporary problem, but if it persists it requires the intervention of a server administrator or developer to investigate and resolve the underlying cause. For end users, a 500 error can be frustrating because it prevents access to desired content and provides no indication of how or when the problem will be resolved.