What's the difference between a 500 error and a 503 error when using Axios?

A 500 error (Internal Server Error) indicates a general server-side problem. A 503 error (Service Unavailable) means the server is temporarily unable to handle the request, often due to overload or maintenance. 503 errors are usually temporary, and retrying the request after a short delay might succeed. 500 errors suggest a more fundamental problem that requires server-side investigation.