502

An HTTP error code meaning "Bad Gateway".

A server can act as a gateway or proxy (go-between) between a client (like your Web browser) and another, upstream server. When you request to access a URL, the gateway server can relay your request to the upstream server. "502" means that the upstream server has returned an invalid response.

Normally the upstream server is not down (i.e. furnishes no response to the gateway/proxy), but does not understand the same data-exchange protocol as the gateway/proxy. Internet protocols are quite explicit, and so a 502 usually means that one or both machines were incorrectly or incompletely programmed.

• list of HTTP response codes