# Backend & API Debugging: Server Errors, Database Issues & Logs

Diagnosing 500 Errors

A 500 error means your server code threw an unhandled exception. The error is in your logs, not in the browser.

// app/api/users/route.ts — BAD: silent failures
export async function GET() {
  const users = await prisma.user.findMany();
  return Response.json(users);
}
// If prisma throws, the user sees a generic 500 with no details

// GOOD: structured error handling
export async function GET() {
  try {
    const users = await prisma.user.findMany();
    return Response.json(users);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('[GET /api/users] Database error:', {
      message: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
      stack: error instanceof Error ? error.stack : undefined,
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
    });
    return Response.json(
      { error: 'Failed to fetch users' },
      { status: 500 }
    );
  }
}