It’s a code that the HTTP protocol issues as a standard response to a failed action. This action is due to a connection being established with the server. However, the web address or a requested element cannot be found.
The 404 error occurs when the browser requests a website to display an element , and for some reason it does not find it, thus not having a correct page to present.
Among the most common reasons for a 404 error are that an address is deleted or moved, or that the URL is misspelled, among other things, so that “the website does not exist” and the error appears.
Why does the 404 error occur?
Imagine the following: a user wants to enter your website, let’s say motosyalgomas.com/helmets-article and so far everything looks good.
But, unwittingly, you have no content in the helmets-article slug . As a result, the visitor will see a 404 error, which is because, even though the server is working fine, the resource doesn’t exist .
The 404 error can occur due to multiple factors, including the following:
- When you make changes to your website, such as changing URLs or links and deleting pages, the source web address becomes unusable, resulting in a 404 error.
- When modifying or deleting content within a web address.
- A user may misspell a web page’s URL. The browser then fails to recognize the URL, causing a 404 error.
- When placing third-party links and these have been removed for some reason, then generating the 404 error.
- Your website ‘s web server is down or malfunctioning, resulting in a 404 error.
- Internet connection problems on the part of the user or visitor of your website.
How does the 404 error affect your website?
The 404 error can affect your website in a variety of ways, all of them negative . And in this world of the Internet, it’s important to remember that Google is king.
Furthermore, it affects your reputation and credibility with users, which can lead to users leaving your site . Other consequences your website may suffer due to this error include:
- Google’s crawlers may interpret the recurrence of a 404 error as a sign that your website isn’t being properly maintained.
- Your website may have a negative PageRank score .
- Google interprets your website as offering a negative user experience for visitors.
- Users who try to access your website lose confidence and will stop visiting again.
- The 404 error affects SEO, especially if you have broken URLs and other errors inherent to this cause, because Google won’t be able to crawl your website correctly.
- Permalink issues also cause 404 errors, which prevent Google from finding your website content .
How to identify a 404 error?
If you suspect your website is experiencing a 404 error, you should rely on tools that detect this error.
- Google Search Console: This is a comprehensive tool that automatically displays HTTP 404 error codes found by the Google crawler . Simply enter the URL of the website you want to inspect, and it will immediately work on all links to correct and repair them.
- Dead Link Checker: A very fast and intuitive tool. Its web app format makes it easy to enter the URL you want to inspect with just one click. It offers options such as checking a specific page or the entire website. Once the analysis is complete, this application will list all pages containing the 404 error.
- W3C Link Checker: This tool stands out for its ability to perform exhaustive analysis of each link or page on a website. Simply enter the URL, and while it takes a little longer than the others, its results are just as effective.
How to fix error 404?
In the previous section, you learned about the tools available to identify 404 errors, some of which offer comprehensive resources.
But if you’re someone who likes to look further and, above all, learn the causes of the 404 error and how to solve it using more comprehensive means, it’s time for you to learn about other methods.
With these methods, along with the free tools already mentioned, you can eradicate this error more safely and effectively. Just know and follow the tips below to permanently resolve 404 errors:
Reload the page
Although the 404 error may scare some people, the truth is that sometimes the solution lies in a simple but effective F5. That is, simply locate and press the F5 key on your keyboard to reload the web page .
This means the page may load correctly. This means you’ve updated the website, which may have failed to load some elements properly on the first attempt, revealing a 404 error.
And if you don’t find the F5 button, don’t worry. Go directly to the URL in the address bar and press the refresh or reload option. And that’s it!
Check the URL
To err is human, as the saying goes. Therefore, it’s possible that when you manually type the URL into the address bar, or when you access it through a link provided to you, it may contain spelling errors .
The recommendation in this case is to check the URL for any spelling errors or misplaced slashes, as these can cause a 404 error.
Delete cache and cookies
If you’ve encountered a 404 error that only appears on one device and you can access the website from another, the error may be in your browser.
To do this, go to your browser’s options and correct the error by deleting all cache and stored cookies . With this solution, your website will surely be available again.
301 Redirect
Another great solution is to prevent the 404 error from occurring. Therefore, it’s recommended that you permanently redirect a deleted page .
With a 301 redirect, Google and your website visitors will be directed to the new page. And don’t worry, because very few users will even notice the new redirect.
You can implement this 301 redirect from the .htaccess file in WordPress or with other existing features.
Create a custom 404 error page
And if the 404 error haunts you, there’s no choice but to find a way to mitigate its negative effects. A good option is to customize that 404 page .
To do this, you can use your favorite content management system (WordPress or Joomla, among others) to generate the standard 404 error page.
But standard can be a bit boring, so you should customize with a pleasing design that invites your users to go to the right link.
Then you can use extensions or plugins that can help you with this. Just be creative and original… and make your 404 at least fun!
Why create a custom 404 error page?
Although the 404 error is clearly undesirable, creating a custom page allows you to win a battle against it.
And this is because users will encounter the correct HTTP code, which is 401 Gone. While signaling that the previous content has been removed, personalization improves the user experience and provides a more pleasant view.
How to avoid a 404 error in the future?
Some tasks you can perform to prevent the possibility of another 404 error on your website in the future include:
- Find and repair broken links that send the user to non-existent resources.
- Check which pages are having issues with Google and create a 301 redirect.
- Use tools like Google Search Console regularly to check the health of your website and avoid the dreaded 404 error.
