404

Not Found

When a user tries to access a webpage or resource that does not exist or cannot be found at its specified location, the server responds with a 404 Not Found status code. This can occur due to various reasons such as:

• Mistyped URL: If a user enters an incorrect URL in their browser's address bar, they will receive a 404 error because the server cannot locate the requested resource.
• Broken or dead links: When hyperlinks on websites point to non-existent pages, users clicking on those links will encounter a 404 error.
• Deleted or moved content: If website owners or content managers delete or relocate webpages without properly redirecting them, visitors trying to access these pages may receive a 404 error.
• Server misconfiguration: Sometimes servers may fail to correctly map URLs to corresponding files, resulting in 404 errors when users try accessing those URLs.
• Temporary unavailability: A webpage/resource might return a 404 response if it is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance activities or other issues affecting its availability at that moment.

Search engines play an important role in handling 404 errors. When search engine crawlers encounter a broken link (resulting in a 404 error), they may remove the link from their index and stop directing users to it. However, search engines also understand that occasional 404 errors are common on websites due to various reasons.

When handling 404 errors for both users and search engines, here are some recommended steps:

For users:

• Customize the 404 error page: Design a user-friendly and visually appealing page that informs visitors about the error and provides navigation options to help them find relevant content.
• Offer suggestions or related links: Provide links to popular pages, recent posts, categories, or a search box so that users can easily explore other parts of your website.

For search engines:

• Return appropriate HTTP status code: Ensure that the server returns a proper 404 HTTP status code when encountering missing pages. This indicates to search engines that the requested URL does not exist.
• Avoid redirecting all 404s to homepage: Instead of redirecting all erroneous URLs to your site's homepage (which can harm user experience), it's better to allow them to reach an informative 404 error page.
• Monitor crawl errors in Google Search Console/Bing Webmaster Tools: Keep track of any reported crawl errors on these platforms and investigate if there are any underlying issues causing frequent 404 errors.
• XML Sitemap: Ensure your XML sitemap is up-to-date so that search engine crawlers can easily discover and index all valid pages on your site while ignoring broken ones.

Common best practices for both users and search engines:

• Check internal links regularly: Regularly audit your website's internal links to identify broken or outdated URLs leading to 404 errors. Fix or update these links accordingly.
• Implement redirects where appropriate:If you have permanently moved a webpage and no longer use its original URL, consider setting up appropriate redirects (301 redirects) instead of leaving it as a dead-end with a 404 error.

404 Not Found vs 410 Gone

In the context of HTTP status codes, both 404 and 410 indicate that a resource is not available. However, they have different implications and are used in different scenarios:

404 Not Found

• A 404 error is typically meant for URLs that have never existed.
• This status code is commonly used to indicate that the requested resource could not be found on the server.
• It indicates a temporary or unknown unavailability of the resource.
• The server does not provide any information regarding whether the resource might become available again in the future.

410 Gone

• This status code specifically indicates that the requested resource was previously available but is now permanently gone from the server.
• It suggests that further requests for this particular resource are futile as it will never be restored.
• The server can optionally provide additional details or explanations about why the resource has been removed.

So, you would use each of these statuses based on your specific situation:

• Use 404 if there is uncertainty about whether or when a missing page may become accessible again (e.g., due to temporary maintenance or technical issues).
• Use 410 if you want to explicitly communicate that a requested page has been deliberately deleted, permanently moved, or no longer exists without any possibility of restoration.

It's important to note that search engines treat these statuses differently. When receiving a 404 response, search engines may continue checking for updates in case it becomes available again in the future. On encountering a 410 response, search engines typically remove that URL from their index more quickly and interpret it as permanently gone.

By following these guidelines, you can enhance both user experience and search engine optimization by effectively managing 404 errors on your website.