500 Error
Something crashed on your server.
What is 500 Error?
A 500 Internal Server Error means your server tried to handle a request but something went wrong on its end. Usually a bug in your backend code, a failed database connection, or a missing environment variable.
Unlike 404 errors (which mean the page doesn't exist), 500 errors mean the page exists but something broke while generating it. Check your server logs to find the exact error.
In Vibe Coding
500 errors in vibe coded apps usually mean: a missing environment variable, a failed database connection, or a bug in your API route. Check your hosting platform's logs (Vercel Functions, Railway logs) to see the actual error.
Example
For example: Your app works perfectly on localhost but shows a 500 error on Vercel. You check the Vercel logs and see: "STRIPE_SECRET_KEY is undefined." You forgot to add the environment variable in Vercel's dashboard.