About 404 Not Found
Overview of 404 Not Found
| Indicates a requested resource is not foundwith an HTTP status code | ||
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404 Not Found Overview The HTTP status code 404 Not Found indicates that the resource requested by the client does not exist on the server or is unavailable. This typically occurs due to incorrect URLs or attempts to access deleted pages. |
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| Impact Frequent 404 errors can undermine user trust, reduce website traffic, and negatively affect search engine rankings. |
When Does 404 Not Found Occur?
- When the requested URL is incorrect
- When the resource has been deleted
- When server settings disable access to the resource
- When dynamically generated pages fail to load correctly
- When cache or DNS issues prevent access to the resource
Impact on SEO
404 errors can prevent search engine crawlers from indexing pages, potentially lowering search rankings. If a resource is removed, setting up appropriate redirects (such as 301 redirects) is essential to minimize the impact. External 404 errors are generally considered less harmful.
Examples of 404 Not Found
Here are some examples where a 404 error may occur:
Typo in the URL
GET /nonexistent-page HTTP/1.1 Host: example.com
The server returns a 404 error because the requested URL does not exist.
Deleted Resource
GET /deleted-page HTTP/1.1 Host: example.com
If the page has been removed, the server cannot find the resource and returns a 404 error.
Improperly Generated Dynamic Pages
GET /product?id=9999 HTTP/1.1 Host: example.com
If no product matches the given ID, a 404 error will occur.
Server-Side Handling and Solutions
To handle 404 errors effectively, consider the following measures:
- Create a custom 404 page
Solution: Provide a custom 404 page with useful links or a search function to assist users. - Set up redirects for deleted pages
Solution: Redirect deleted pages to relevant pages (using 301 redirects) to guide users appropriately. - Review server configurations
Solution: Check web server settings (Apache, Nginx, etc.) to ensure requests are routed to the correct resources. - Improve error handling for dynamic pages
Solution: Update applications to return 404 errors appropriately when data is unavailable.
Client-Side Handling and Solutions
On the client side, the following approaches may resolve 404 errors:
- Verify and correct the URL
Solution: Check for typos in the entered URL and correct them. - Use the search function
Solution: Use the website’s search function if the desired page is not found. - Contact the administrator
Solution: Reach out to the website administrator to confirm if the resource has been deleted or to obtain the correct URL.
Comparison with Related HTTP Status Codes
Here are some HTTP status codes often confused with 404 Not Found:
- 403 Forbidden: Returned when a resource exists but access is denied.
- 410 Gone: Returned when a resource has been permanently removed and is no longer available.
Understanding these differences ensures proper responses and solutions.