Error 404

What is a 404 error?
Causes of a 404 error
Possible consequences for the website
How to detect a 404 error?
How to fix a Not Found error
How to make a 404 page useful

What is a 404 error?

A 404 error, also known as Error 404 Not Found, occurs when the browser cannot find the specified URL on the server. This message can appear in various forms: "HTTP 404 Not Found," "Error 404 Not Found," or "404 Page Not Found." The essence remains the same: the page is unavailable or does not exist. In English, "Not Found" means "not found."

A 404 error is a classic HTTP response code that confirms the connection to the server is established, but the requested data is absent. For example, if a random string of characters is entered in the address bar, the browser may display a message stating that it could not connect to the server rather than a 404 error.

Technically, when the browser requests a URL, it expects a numerical response from the server. If the request is correct and the page is found, a response with the code 200 OK is sent, indicating successful loading. Otherwise, an error code is sent, and this is where the 404 error occurs.

Causes of a 404 error

There are several reasons why HTTP returns a 404 Not Found response:

Incorrect address: The user may make a mistake when typing the address manually, or the link may lead to a non-existent page.
Broken link: An inactive URL that leads nowhere may result from internal linking when a page has been deleted but the link remains.
Deleted page: Accessing a page that has been removed from the server will also lead to a 404 error.
Incorrect redirect: If related links were not updated after changing the URL, this can cause an error.
Server issues: This is the rare case where the error occurs due to problems with the server itself.

Possible consequences for the website

One should not underestimate a 404 error, even if it seems like a minor issue. Frequent occurrences of this error can lead to user attrition from the site. Some users may start to think that the site is unavailable or unreliable if they regularly encounter errors. Search engines are generally more forgiving of 404 errors, but if indexing reveals many such pages, it can negatively affect the site's ranking.

To improve user interaction, it is important to identify and fix all 404 errors on the site to ensure a smooth navigation experience.

How to detect a 404 error?

For small websites, you can check the functionality of links manually. However, on larger resources with hundreds of pages, this can be challenging. There are many services and programs that help find broken links:

Google Search Console: Allows you to find pages with 404 errors in just a few clicks.
Yandex Webmaster: Helps quickly identify all 404 errors on the site.
Screaming Frog: A program for finding technical issues, including broken links.
SiteAnalyzer: A free desktop program for detecting technical errors on the site.

How to fix a Not Found error

Fixing a 404 error depends on its cause:

If the link leads nowhere due to an incorrect URL, replace the erroneous link with the correct address.
In the case of a broken link, remove it or replace it with a current one.
For larger sites, it is better to automate the error-fixing process using plugins for internal linking.

To minimize the occurrence of 404 errors, it is advisable to follow simple recommendations: avoid complex addresses, do not change URLs too often, and host the site on a reliable server.

How to make a 404 page useful

A 404 error page can become an effective conversion tool if designed correctly. Here are some tips for the content of a 404 page:

A menu with clickable links.
A link to the homepage.
A preview of the latest publications.
Contact information for feedback.

It is important for the 404 page to be designed in contrasting colors compared to the main content of the site so that visitors can immediately understand that the page is missing. Additionally, one should adhere to a consistent design style to ensure the user does not get lost on the site.