218 This is fine

HTTP response status code 218 This is fine is an unofficial, community-driven HTTP response status code that is not part of any standard or specification. The name references the popular "This is Fine" internet meme, a comic strip by KC Green depicting a dog sitting in a burning room, calmly stating "This is fine."

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Origin

The 218 This is fine status code is widely attributed to the Apache HTTP Server and its ProxyErrorOverride directive. The association between 218 This is fine and Apache appears to have originated from an unsourced addition to Wikipedia, which was subsequently picked up by various HTTP reference sites, creating a circular chain of citations.

Usage

Despite its lack of formal definition, 218 This is fine has gained recognition in the developer community as a humorous, informal status code. Because the HTTP specification allows servers to return any three-digit status code, any web server or application can be configured to respond with 218 This is fine as a custom status code.

In practice, it is sometimes used to signal that the server has encountered a non-critical issue but is continuing to operate normally. The semantic meaning aligns with the meme it references: acknowledging a problem while choosing to proceed as if everything is acceptable.

The ProxyErrorOverride directive in Apache does exist and controls how Apache handles error responses (4XX and 5XX) from backend servers when acting as a reverse proxy. When enabled, Apache replaces these error responses with locally defined ErrorDocument pages. However, this mechanism does not involve status code 218 This is fine in any version of Apache httpd.

Takeaway

HTTP response status code 218 This is fine is an unofficial, community-adopted code with no formal implementation in any major web server. While widely associated with Apache and its ProxyErrorOverride setting, this attribution cannot be verified in Apache's source code or documentation. It remains a recognized part of HTTP folklore, used informally by developers, and inspired by the "This is Fine" internet meme.

Last updated: February 21, 2026