A PHP CLI tool for looking up HTTP status codes. Get instant access to status names, descriptions, RFC references, categories, and common causes — right from your terminal.

• Quick lookup: http-status 404 shows full details for any status code
• List all codes: http-status --list displays every code grouped by class (1xx–5xx)
• Filter by class: http-status --class 4xx shows only client error codes
• Fuzzy search: http-status --search "timeout" finds codes by keyword
• JSON output: http-status --json 200 for scripting and piping

• PHP 8.2+
• No Composer dependencies required at runtime

git clone https://github.com/sen-ltd/http-status.git
cd http-status
chmod +x bin/http-status

Add to your PATH or create an alias:

alias http-status='/path/to/http-status/bin/http-status'

http-status 404

404 Not Found

  Category: 4xx Client Error
  RFC: RFC 9110 §15.5.5

  Description:
  The server cannot find the requested resource. The URI is not
  recognized.

  Common Causes:
  • Typo in URL
  • Deleted resource
  • Wrong API endpoint
  • Missing route

http-status --list

http-status --class 5xx

http-status --search "authentication"

http-status --json 200
http-status --json --list
http-status --json --search "redirect"

docker build -t http-status .
docker run --rm http-status 404
docker run --rm http-status --list

composer install
composer test

The tool includes data for 60+ HTTP status codes covering:

• 1xx Informational (100–103)
• 2xx Success (200–226)
• 3xx Redirection (300–308)
• 4xx Client Error (400–451)
• 5xx Server Error (500–511)

Each code includes the official RFC reference, a human-readable description, and a list of common real-world causes.

MIT

• 📝 dev.to: https://dev.to/sendotltd/building-an-http-status-code-reference-cli-in-php-no-dependencies-required-mh3