404 Error Page (2024)

FAQs

What is a 404 error page? ›

A 404 page is also known as an “error page” or “Page Not Found” page. This page indicates that the user reached the domain they requested, but the URL path provided no information. If that sentence made your eyes glaze over, you're not alone.

The 404 code means that a server could not find a client-requested webpage. Variations of the error message include "404 Error," "404 Page Not Found" and "The requested URL was not found." This 404 error page shows the user the error code, what it means and potential ways to navigate around it.

The 404 Not Found error might appear for several reasons even though no real issue exists, so sometimes a simple refresh will often load the page you were looking for. Check for errors in the URL. Often times this error appears because the URL was typed wrong or the link selected points to the wrong URL.

The answer is no. A 404 error doesn't necessarily mean you were blocked from accessing the page. It simply means that the requested page is unavailable or doesn't exist.

The typical trigger for an error 404 message is when website content has been removed or moved to another URL. There are also other reasons why an error message could appear. These include: The URL or its content (such as files or images) was either deleted or moved (without adjusting any internal links accordingly)

The first documented case of a 404 error appearing on a web page was in 1993, when a user tried to access a page about the Mosaic web browser on the NCSA website. The page had been moved to a different location, but the link had not been updated.

What is the message on the 404 page? ›

This standard HTTP error message code signals the website you were trying to reach couldn't be found on the server. It's a client-side error, meaning either the webpage was removed or moved, and the URL wasn't changed accordingly, or the person just typed in the URL incorrectly.

An HTTP error 404 occurs when the web server cannot find a resource (like a webpage) at a certain URL. This can happen if: The user has used the wrong page URL, e.g., by making a typo in it. The website owner has deleted the resource and it's no longer available on the server.

Indeed, there are scenarios where 404 errors can actually benefit your website, rather than harm it. Consider a situation where your website suffers a malware attack, resulting in hundreds or thousands of pages being wrongly indexed on Google. These pages might contain harmful content for users.

It basically indicates that a user is successful in connecting to a server, but the server is unable to find the requested information. A 404 error happens when users try to follow dead or broken links, and they get 404 error messages in return. These errors are among the most commonly encountered on the internet.

1. Refresh the window or Clear the Cache. You can try refreshing the webpage because sometimes a 404 error can be due to some glitches. You can also try to clear the web browser cache to fix the 404 error.

A 404 error page should always include the following: A clear message that lets visitors know that the requested page doesn't exist. A call to action (CTA) that keeps users on your site or directs them where you want them to go. An introduction to your brand's voice through the page's text or images.

Google Search Console provides a list of every 404 error Googlebot finds on your site. This includes both hard 404s and soft 404s. Login to the Search Console, click Coverage, and select the Excluded tab. You'll see a list of hard 404 errors marked Not found (404) and soft 404 errors marked Soft 404.

An HTTP error 404 occurs when the web server cannot find a resource (like a webpage) at a certain URL. This can happen if: The user has used the wrong page URL, e.g., by making a typo in it. The website owner has deleted the resource and it's no longer available on the server.