# internal_error — Shorty API error

> Internal server error (HTTP 500): when the Shorty API returns the internal_error error, why, and how to fix it.

| Code | HTTP status | Type URI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `internal_error` | 500 | `https://aishorty.com/docs/api/errors/internal_error` |

## When it happens

An unexpected error occurred on our side. Unlike service_unavailable, this is not a mapped/known condition.

## Example response

```json
{
  "type": "https://aishorty.com/docs/api/errors/internal_error",
  "title": "Internal server error",
  "status": 500,
  "detail": "An unexpected error occurred.",
  "instance": "urn:request:req_01J9Z8ABCDEFGH0123456789",
  "code": "internal_error",
  "request_id": "req_01J9Z8ABCDEFGH0123456789"
}
```

## How to fix it

Retry after a short delay. If it persists, contact support with the `request_id` from the problem body so we can trace it.

## Related errors

- [service_unavailable](/docs/api/errors/service_unavailable) — Service unavailable (HTTP 503)