> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usenubis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Health checks

> Choose health checks that reflect real application health so traffic stops flowing to bad backends quickly.

## Health checks should match the app, not just the port

A good health check tells the load balancer whether the backend can actually serve the workload, not merely whether the server is powered on.

## Practical guidance

* Use an HTTP endpoint when the application can expose one safely.
* Use a TCP check only when a deeper application check is not possible.
* Keep the check fast enough to catch failure but stable enough to avoid flapping.
* Review timeout and interval settings during traffic tests.

## Common mistakes

* Probing an endpoint that is too shallow to reflect app health
* Using check intervals that are too aggressive for the workload
* Forgetting to update the health check after the application path changes