Status code 101 in HTTP is called "Switching Protocols." It's an informational message that indicates the server has understood and agreed to a client's request to switch to a different communication protocol. This request is usually made through a special header field in the HTTP request called "Upgrade".
The most common use case for status code 101 is establishing WebSocket connections. WebSockets enable real-time, two-way communication between a browser and a server, and they rely on HTTP for the initial connection handshake. In this scenario, the browser sends an HTTP request with the Upgrade header specifying WebSocket, and if the server supports it, it responds with a 101 status code and switches the connection to the WebSocket protocol.
In summary, status code 101 signifies a successful negotiation between a client and server to switch from the standard HTTP protocol to a different protocol, typically for more advanced features or functionalities.