What does a 404 actually tell you?
HTTP status 404 (Not Found) means the server received the request but did not find a resource for that URL. It does not mean the internet is down or the entire server is unreachable. If you see a 404, communication with the server has usually already worked.
Most common causes
- The URL was entered incorrectly.
- The page moved without a redirect.
- The content was deleted.
- An internal or external link is outdated.
- The web application constructs URLs incorrectly.
What should a visitor do?
First check the address, remove unnecessary parameters that may have been added by mistake, then open the homepage and find the content through navigation or a search engine. If the rest of the domain works, your connection is not necessarily the problem.
How can you distinguish a wrong URL from a removed page?
- Open the homepage of the same domain. If it works, the server is reachable.
- Look for typos, duplicate path segments or an old query parameter.
- If you followed a link on the same website, it may be a broken internal link that the owner needs to correct.
- If a search engine lists the page but it returns 404, the index may be outdated and the page needs to be crawled again.
What should a website owner do?
If the content moved and there is a clear replacement, a permanent 301 redirect to the new URL makes sense. If it was permanently removed without a suitable replacement, redirecting every 404 to the homepage is not helpful. Fix internal links and the sitemap as well.
404, 410 or a redirect?
If the content simply moved, redirect to the most relevant new URL. If it is gone without replacement, 404 or the more explicit 410 may be appropriate. The status should reflect reality rather than sending users to unrelated content merely to avoid a 404.
404 errors and SEO
One 404 is not a disaster. Problems arise when important pages or many internal links systematically point to nonexistent URLs. Search engines need a truthful status, and visitors need a useful 404 page with a way forward.
Frequently asked questions
Does 404 mean the entire website is down?
No. It often means only that a particular URL does not exist.
Is 404 the same as 410?
No. A 410 more explicitly states that the resource was deliberately and permanently removed.
Should I redirect every 404 to the homepage?
No. Without a relevant content replacement, returning a proper 404 or 410 is better than a misleading redirect.