What is 404 Not Found Error
A 404 error, also known as a 404 Not Found error, indicates that the page or resource a user is trying to access cannot be found on the server. This error typically occurs when a link is broken or typed incorrectly, when a page has been deleted or moved without redirecting the old URL, or when there is a temporary glitch. While 404 errors are common and usually not harmful, they can frustrate users and indicate issues with a website’s structure or health. Luckily, there are several ways website owners can troubleshoot, prevent, and handle 404 errors to provide users with a better experience.
Key Takeaways
- A 404 error indicates a requested page, or resource cannot be found on the server. This commonly occurs from broken links, deleted pages, or website errors.
- Though common, 404 errors frustrate users and can indicate problems with site structure or management. They should not be ignored.
- To troubleshoot 404s, check for broken links, trace 404 sources, test site navigation, inspect site maps, and monitor site changes.
- 404 prevention revolves around careful site management, link-checking tools, redirects for changed URLs, and testing before going live.
- To handle 404s, customize error pages, use redirects, provide search tools, link to relevant content, and log errors to fix sources.
- With proper management, 404 errors can be minimized to improve site health and the user experience.
What are the Common Causes of 404 Errors
There are a few main reasons why a 404 Not Found error may appear:
- Broken Links
- Intentional Page Removal
- Temporary Site Issues
- Incorrect URLs
- Crawlers Attempting Invalid Pages
- Hotlinking
Broken Links
Links that point to invalid URLs or nonexistent pages will trigger 404 errors when clicked. These broken links are often the result of manual errors, accidental deletions, or website changes without proper redirects implemented. They can occur both internally and on external sites linking to your content.
Intentional Page Removal
Website owners may intentionally delete or remove pages without setting up redirects from the old URL to a new location. Visitors trying to access the old link will encounter 404 errors.
Temporary Site Issues
Server problems, website crashes, domain outages, or other temporary technical issues can cause pages and resources to fail to load correctly, resulting in sporadic 404 errors until resolved.
Incorrect URLs
Human error accounts for many 404 occurrences. Users may manually type in incorrect URLs or follow outdated links that point to pages that no longer exist in that location.
Crawlers Attempting Invalid Pages
Web crawlers and bots may attempt to access pages that were never valid URLs in the first place. If a crawler tries to index a random URL that does not point to an existing page, a 404 is triggered.
Hotlinking
Hotlinking refers to linking directly to a resource, such as an image hosted on a domain, without actually visiting the webpage it’s located on. If the resource is moved or deleted, the external hotlink will begin serving 404 errors.
By being aware of the common sources of 404 errors, web admins can take steps to manage, troubleshoot, and prevent them proactively and properly.
Troubleshooting 404 Not Found Errors
To troubleshoot 404 errors on your site and find the sources causing them, there are some investigative steps you can take:
Check for Broken Links
Manually review links pointing to internal pages or external sites to check if any are directing visitors to invalid URLs. Broken links are a prime cause of 404s.
Review Server Logs
Look at your server access logs to identify which 404ing URLs are being requested and how often. This can help trace high-traffic 404s back to their root cause.
Use a Broken Link Checker
Automated crawlers, such as W3C Link Checker and Dr. Link Check, can crawl your site to identify broken links and point out 404 errors they find.
Test Site Navigation
Browse your site to try clicking through menus and navigation to uncover any pages or links triggering 404 errors.
Review Sitemaps
Sitemaps contain references to all valid pages of a website. Comparing sitemaps with your existing site structure can uncover URL paths that no longer exist.
Monitor Changes Closely
When making updates to your site’s information architecture, be sure to monitor any resulting 404 errors so you can address them quickly.
Check Error Logs
Server and application error logs record status codes like 404 each time they occur. Analyzing these logs can reveal patterns pointing to systemic issues.
Use a 404 Monitoring Tool
Dedicated 404 monitoring tools like LinkMiner, Sucuri SiteCheck, or ScreamingFrog provide expanded 404 analysis and help uncover common factors among errors.
With a combination of manual checks and tool assistance, you can identify pesky 404 errors and take steps to fix their underlying causes.
How to Prevent 404 Not Found Error?
While some 404 errors will always appear from accidental user typos or temporary technical glitches, web admins can take preventative measures to reduce 404 occurrences proactively:
Carefully Manage Site Content
Be thoughtful when reorganizing site content or removing pages by considering linking structures and avoiding broken links. Create redirects to route requests from old URLs to new destinations.
Use Link Checking Tools
Link checkers can regularly crawl your site to identify broken links before they create 404 errors for users. They help catch overlooked issues.
Include Page Revision Dates
Adding the last revised dates to pages lets users identify and report outdated content containing broken links more easily.
Establish 404 Monitoring
Monitor site error logs and use 404 analysis tools to identify spikes in new 404s after site changes roll out. This allows quick remediation.
Test Before Going Live
Thoroughly test site changes, content removals, and URL structure updates on staging environments first before deploying to live servers.
Provide Internal Search
Having on-site search helps users still locate desired content even if directly linking to a page results in a 404.
Implement Redirects
When renaming pages, create 301 redirects that forward traffic from old URLs to the new locations. Temporary redirects can also help during site maintenance.
Limit Hotlinking
Avoid hotlinked assets that may get deleted or moved unexpectedly. Use whitelisting or .htaccess techniques to limit unauthorized hotlinking of resources.
Create Custom 404 Pages
Design custom 404 error pages that provide helpful navigation, site search, and suggestions for related content to reduce visitor frustration.
How to Handle 404 Error?
When 404 errors do occur, there are ways site owners can handle them to provide a better visitor experience:
Customize the 404 Page
To minimize frustration, create a unique, branded 404 page that fits with your site’s design. Include helpful navigation links, a search bar, and links to related content.
Redirect When Possible
If you know the new URL for a recently moved page, redirect requests for the old 404ing URL to the new location via 301 redirects.
Provide Multiple Navigation Options
Include useful site navigation links, sitemaps, and internal searches to help users find what they need from the 404 page.
Explain the Error
Politely explain the 404 error and why it occurred, such as due to a broken link or typing error. Avoid overly technical language.
Link to Related Pages
Suggest useful content related to the 404ing page topic to satisfy the user’s goal of finding information about that subject.
Maintain a User-Friendly Tone
Avoid harsh wording and adopt a friendly tone to acknowledge the error while guiding users helpfully.
Monitor 404 Trends
Log 404 error spikes and monitor for ongoing patterns. Use this data to identify systemic issues that need fixing.
Fix Common 404 Sources
Analyze logs and reports to identify the most common 404 errors and determine whether certain broken links, site changes, or errors cause them.
Add Live Chat Functionality
Consider providing live chat or contact options for users who become frustrated or repeatedly encounter 404s and want direct assistance.
Final Thoughts
In summary, 404 errors are unavoidable at times but easily frustrate users. By implementing ongoing 404 monitoring, troubleshooting the root causes of spikes, and handling errors helpfully when they do arise, webmasters can minimize negative impacts and provide a smooth user experience. With some effort and care put into proper 404 management, these pesky file not found errors need not harm site health or reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common causes of 404 errors?
The most common causes are broken internal or external links, intentional page removals without redirects, temporary site errors, typed incorrect URLs, web crawlers trying invalid pages, and broken hot-linked external resources like images.
Why do 404 errors matter if it’s just a missing page?
Frequent 404 errors frustrate users who expect to find certain content on a website. They make sites seem outdated, unmanaged, or low quality. High 404 rates also tell search engines that site content needs to be better organized.
How can I find the sources of 404 errors on my site?
Check server and application error logs, use 404 analysis tools, manually review links and site navigation, compare sitemaps to existing pages, monitor spikes after site changes, and leverage broken link checkers.
What’s the best way to prevent 404 errors from appearing?
Proactive prevention measures include managing content carefully, thoroughly testing site changes before going live, implementing redirects for URL changes, using link checkers, adding page revision dates, limiting hotlinking, and building custom 404 pages.
How should I handle 404 errors for users who encounter them?
Create branded, user-friendly 404 pages with alternate navigation links, on-site search, helpful explanations, related content suggestions, human-sounding wording, and contact options. Monitor ongoing 404 trends and root causes.
Will a single 404 error harm my site or ranking?
A single 404 is no cause for concern. Even sites with strong health and management can get accidental 404s now and then. However, high ongoing 404 rates do hurt user experience and become problematic, so they should be addressed.
How often should I check for 404 errors?
Periodically manually checking links and site navigation works, but automated 404 monitoring and crawling tools provide more frequent, comprehensive 404 detection. Review 404 error logs at least monthly.
Can I set up redirects for all 404 errors to my home page?
This is not recommended, as it provides a poor user experience. Homepage redirects should only be used temporarily during maintenance. Helpful 404 pages, specific redirects to new URLs, and related content links provide better results.
Are 404s bad for SEO?
Frequent or increasing 404 errors indicate that site content needs to be better organized in the eyes of search engines. Failing to address growing 404 rates can indirectly impact SEO ranking, but occasional 404s are not directly detrimental.
What’s a normal volume of 404 errors for a healthy site?
A well-managed site should have relatively minimal 404 occurrences—less than 2% of all requests. Anything under 4% may be acceptable. 10% or higher indicates problems that should be addressed ASAP.
Jinu Arjun