HTTP 404 Response Status Code Guide: What is it, Usage, Methods

May 26 2024 by Oskay Günaçar

What Is HTTP 404 Status Code?

The HTTP 404 status code is a standard response code in web communications indicating that the server was unable to find the requested resource. This means the server itself is reachable, but the specific page or file the client is trying to access is not available. Here are some key points about the HTTP 404 status code:

Client Error Response: The 404 status code is part of the HTTP 4xx category, which is used for situations where the client seems to have made an error. In this case, it means the client requested a resource that does not exist on the server.
Common Causes:
- The URL was mistyped or is incorrect.
- The resource has been moved to another URL without proper redirection.
- The resource has been deleted.
User Experience: When a 404 error occurs, users typically see a "404 Not Found" message on their browser. Websites often have custom 404 pages to help guide users back to a functioning part of the site.
SEO Impact: Frequent 404 errors can negatively impact a website's SEO, as search engines might see the site as unreliable or poorly maintained.
Server Logs: 404 errors are logged by the server and can be analyzed to identify broken links or other issues that need addressing.

Overall, the HTTP 404 status code is a way for servers to communicate to clients that the requested resource is not found, helping users and administrators diagnose and fix navigation and access issues on a website.

Importance of the HTTP 404 Status Code in SEO

The HTTP 404 status code plays a significant role in search engine optimization (SEO). Its proper handling is crucial for maintaining a healthy website and ensuring a positive user experience. Here are the key reasons why the HTTP 404 status code is important in SEO:

User Experience

A well-handled 404 error can help maintain a positive user experience. Custom 404 pages can guide users back to relevant content, reducing frustration and increasing the likelihood that they will stay on your site rather than leaving.

Search Engine Crawling

Search engines use 404 status codes to understand which pages no longer exist. Proper handling of 404 errors ensures that search engines do not waste resources crawling non-existent pages, allowing them to focus on the valuable content on your site.

Site Health and Maintenance

Regularly monitoring and addressing 404 errors can help maintain the overall health of your website. By fixing broken links and ensuring that all pages are accessible, you can improve the site's structure and functionality, which is favorable for both users and search engines.

Link Equity

When a page returns a 404 status, any link equity or "link juice" that the page had is lost. Implementing proper redirects (e.g., 301 redirects) for pages that have moved can help preserve this link equity, thereby supporting your SEO efforts.

Bounce Rate and Dwell Time

404 errors can increase your bounce rate if users immediately leave your site after encountering an error. By providing helpful custom 404 pages, you can encourage users to continue exploring your site, thereby improving metrics like dwell time, which can positively impact your SEO.

Crawl Budget

Search engines allocate a certain amount of crawl budget to each site, which determines how many pages are crawled within a given timeframe. Properly handling 404 errors ensures that your crawl budget is used efficiently, focusing on valuable and accessible content rather than non-existent pages.

How to Use HTTP 404 Status Code for a Website

Using the HTTP 404 status code effectively for a website involves several steps to ensure both users and search engines handle the absence of a resource gracefully. Here are some best practices:

Create a Custom 404 Page:
- Design: Make sure the page is visually consistent with the rest of the site, maintaining your brand's look and feel.
- Content: Provide a helpful message explaining that the page couldn't be found. Include links to popular sections of the site, a search bar, and a link to the homepage.
- User Guidance: Offer suggestions for what users can do next, such as checking the URL, visiting other parts of the site, or contacting support.
Monitor and Fix Broken Links:
- Regular Audits: Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or other SEO tools to regularly check for and fix broken links on your site.
- Update Internal Links: Ensure all internal links point to existing pages. If content is moved or deleted, update the links accordingly.
- Check External Links: If external sites are linking to a page that no longer exists, consider reaching out to them to update the link or implement a redirect.
Implement Proper Redirects:
- 301 Redirects: When a page is permanently moved, use a 301 redirect to send both users and search engines to the new location. This helps preserve SEO value.
- 410 Status Code: If a page is permanently removed and has no replacement, consider using a 410 (Gone) status code to explicitly tell search engines that the page is no longer available.
Use Robots.txt and Meta Tags:
- Disallow Crawling of 404 Pages: Update your robots.txt file to disallow crawling of your custom 404 page to prevent it from being indexed.
- Meta Tags: Use meta tags to control the indexing of certain pages, ensuring that search engines handle the content as intended.
Analyze 404 Errors:
- Log Analysis: Regularly review server logs to identify and analyze 404 errors. Determine the cause (e.g., mistyped URLs, outdated links) and address them promptly.
- User Feedback: Provide an option for users to report a broken link directly from the 404 page, helping you identify and fix issues quickly.
Ensure Correct Use of 404 Status Code:
- Correct Server Response: Ensure that your web server correctly returns a 404 status code when a page is not found. This can be checked using browser developer tools or online HTTP status code checkers.
- Consistent Responses: Make sure that all non-existent URLs return a 404 status code and not other codes like 200 (OK) or 302 (Found).

By implementing these practices, you can effectively use the HTTP 404 status code to maintain a healthy website, provide a better user experience, and support your SEO efforts.

How to Check HTTP 404 Status Code?

Checking for HTTP 404 status codes is crucial for maintaining a healthy website and ensuring a positive user experience. Here are several methods to check for HTTP 404 status codes:

Browser Developer Tools:
- Inspect Network Requests: Open your browser's developer tools (usually accessed by pressing F12 or right-clicking on the page and selecting "Inspect"). Navigate to the "Network" tab, refresh the page, and look for entries with a status code of 404.
- Console Errors: Check the "Console" tab for any error messages indicating 404 errors.
Online Tools:
- HTTP Status Code Checkers: Use online tools such as HTTP Status Code Checker or Check HTTP Status to input URLs and check their status codes.
- Link Checkers: Tools like Broken Link Checker can scan your entire website for broken links that return 404 errors.
SEO Tools:
- Google Search Console: Under the "Coverage" section, Google Search Console lists pages with errors, including 404 status codes. This tool provides insights into issues detected by Googlebot.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: This desktop application crawls your website and reports on various SEO issues, including pages that return 404 status codes.
Server Logs:
- Access Logs: Review your web server's access logs, which record all requests made to the server. Look for entries with a 404 status code to identify missing pages.
- Error Logs: Check your server's error logs for records of 404 errors. These logs provide detailed information on the request that caused the error.
Automated Scripts:
- Custom Scripts: Write scripts using programming languages like Python or JavaScript to automate the process of checking URLs for 404 status codes. For example, a Python script using the requests library can iterate through a list of URLs and report their status codes.

Here is a simple example of a Python script to check the status code of a list of URLs:

import requests

urls = [ "https://example.com/page1", "https://example.com/page2", # Add more URLs as needed ]

for url in urls: response = requests.get(url) if response.status_code == 404: print(f"404 Not Found: {url}") else: print(f"{response.status_code}: {url}")

CMS Plugins:
- WordPress Plugins: If you are using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, there are plugins available that can help you identify and manage 404 errors. Plugins such as "Redirection" or "404 to 301" can monitor and log 404 errors.

By utilizing these methods, you can effectively monitor and address HTTP 404 status codes on your website, ensuring a better user experience and maintaining good SEO practices.

Which HTTP Method is used with HTTP 404 Status Code?

The HTTP 404 status code can be returned with various HTTP methods, but it is most commonly associated with the GET method. Here’s a detailed explanation:

GET Method:
- Description: The GET method is used to request data from a specified resource. When you visit a web page or click on a link, a GET request is made.
- 404 Scenario: If the requested resource (e.g., a web page, image, or other data) is not found on the server, the server will respond with a 404 status code.
- Example: A user tries to access https://example.com/nonexistent-page, but the page does not exist. The server responds with a 404 status code.
Other HTTP Methods: While the GET method is the most common, 404 status codes can also occur with other HTTP methods if the requested resource is not found. These methods include, but are not limited to:
- POST:
  - Description: The POST method is used to send data to the server, often resulting in a change in server state or side effects (e.g., submitting a form).
  - 404 Scenario: If the target URL of the POST request does not exist, the server will return a 404 status code.
  - Example: Submitting a form to https://example.com/nonexistent-form-handler results in a 404 error if the handler does not exist.
- PUT:
  - Description: The PUT method is used to upload or replace a resource at a specified URL.
  - 404 Scenario: If the target URL for the PUT request does not exist and the server is configured to not create new resources, a 404 status code is returned.
  - Example: Uploading a file to https://example.com/nonexistent-upload-location results in a 404 error if the location is not found.
- DELETE:
  - Description: The DELETE method is used to delete a specified resource.
  - 404 Scenario: If the resource to be deleted does not exist, the server will return a 404 status code.
  - Example: Attempting to delete a resource at https://example.com/nonexistent-resource results in a 404 error if the resource is not found.
- PATCH:
  - Description: The PATCH method is used to apply partial modifications to a resource.
  - 404 Scenario: If the resource to be modified does not exist, the server will return a 404 status code.
  - Example: Sending a PATCH request to https://example.com/nonexistent-resource results in a 404 error if the resource is not found.
- HEAD:
  - Description: The HEAD method is similar to GET but requests only the headers and not the body of the resource.
  - 404 Scenario: If the requested resource is not found, the server will return a 404 status code.
  - Example: A HEAD request to https://example.com/nonexistent-page results in a 404 error if the page is not found.

In summary, while the HTTP 404 status code is most commonly encountered with the GET method, it can be returned with any HTTP method if the specified resource is not found on the server.

What is the Browser Compatibility of HTTP 404 Status Code?

The HTTP 404 Not Found status code is universally supported across all modern web browsers. This status code is part of the HTTP/1.0 and HTTP/1.1 standards, making it widely recognized and handled appropriately by any browser that supports these protocols.

Browser Compatibility

Here's an overview of how major browsers handle the HTTP 404 status code:

Google Chrome

Compatibility: Full support
Behavior: Chrome displays a default "404 Not Found" error page, indicating that the requested URL was not found on the server. Developers can inspect this status code using the browser's developer tools under the "Network" tab.

Mozilla Firefox

Compatibility: Full support
Behavior: Firefox shows a "404 Not Found" error message. Similar to Chrome, developers can use the developer tools to inspect network requests and see the 404 status code.

Microsoft Edge

Compatibility: Full support
Behavior: Edge displays a default "404 Not Found" error page. The developer tools in Edge provide detailed information about network requests, including status codes.

Safari

Compatibility: Full support
Behavior: Safari shows a "404 Not Found" message. The Web Inspector tool in Safari can be used to view the details of network requests.

Opera

Compatibility: Full support
Behavior: Opera will show a "404 Not Found" error page. Developers can use Opera's developer tools to inspect network activity and status codes.

Best Practices for Handling HTTP 404

Handling HTTP 404 errors effectively is crucial for maintaining a positive user experience and ensuring good SEO practices. Here are some best practices for handling HTTP 404 errors:

1. Create a Custom 404 Page

Design Consistency: Ensure the custom 404 page matches the overall look and feel of your website to maintain brand consistency.
Helpful Message: Provide a clear message indicating that the page could not be found.
Navigation Options: Include links to popular sections of your site, a search bar, and a link to the homepage to help users find what they're looking for.
User Guidance: Offer suggestions for what users can do next, such as checking the URL, visiting other parts of the site, or contacting support.

2. Monitor and Fix Broken Links

Regular Audits: Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or other SEO tools to regularly check for and fix broken links on your site.
Update Internal Links: Ensure all internal links point to existing pages. If content is moved or deleted, update the links accordingly.
Check External Links: If external sites are linking to a page that no longer exists, consider reaching out to them to update the link or implement a redirect.

3. Implement Proper Redirects

301 Redirects: When a page is permanently moved, use a 301 redirect to send both users and search engines to the new location. This helps preserve SEO value.
410 Status Code: If a page is permanently removed and has no replacement, consider using a 410 (Gone) status code to explicitly tell search engines that the page is no longer available.

4. Use Robots.txt and Meta Tags

Disallow Crawling of 404 Pages: Update your robots.txt file to disallow crawling of your custom 404 page to prevent it from being indexed.
Meta Tags: Use meta tags to control the indexing of certain pages, ensuring that search engines handle the content as intended.

5. Analyze 404 Errors

Log Analysis: Regularly review server logs to identify and analyze 404 errors. Determine the cause (e.g., mistyped URLs, outdated links) and address them promptly.
User Feedback: Provide an option for users to report a broken link directly from the 404 page, helping you identify and fix issues quickly.

6. Ensure Correct Use of 404 Status Code

Correct Server Response: Ensure that your web server correctly returns a 404 status code when a page is not found. This can be checked using browser developer tools or online HTTP status code checkers.
Consistent Responses: Make sure that all non-existent URLs return a 404 status code and not other codes like 200 (OK) or 302 (Found).

7. Provide Useful Resources on 404 Pages

Popular Links: Include links to popular or important pages on your site.
Site Map: Consider providing a site map to help users navigate to their desired content.
Search Functionality: Offer a search box so users can quickly find the information they need.

8. Optimize for Mobile Users

Responsive Design: Ensure that your custom 404 page is responsive and looks good on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.

9. Track 404 Errors Using Analytics

Google Analytics: Set up tracking for 404 errors in Google Analytics to monitor how often they occur and on which pages. This can help you identify patterns and address common issues.

10. Educate Your Team

Internal Training: Ensure that your content creators, developers, and SEO specialists understand the importance of handling 404 errors and are trained on best practices for avoiding and addressing them.

Conclusion

Effectively managing HTTP 404 status codes is a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy and user-friendly website. By understanding the significance of the 404 status code and implementing best practices, you can enhance the user experience, preserve your website's SEO value, and ensure smooth navigation for your visitors.

Creating a custom 404 page that is both informative and engaging helps mitigate user frustration and keeps visitors on your site. Regularly monitoring and fixing broken links, using proper redirects, and analyzing 404 errors can prevent potential SEO issues and maintain the integrity of your site. Additionally, leveraging tools like Google Search Console and server logs can help you stay on top of any issues and address them promptly.

Remember, a well-handled 404 error can turn a potentially negative experience into an opportunity to guide users to relevant content and reinforce your brand's reliability. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your website remains robust, user-friendly, and optimized for both users and search engines.