404 Not Found

What is HTTP 404?

This is one of the most recognizable status codes on the web. It indicates that the server cannot find any resource matching the requested URI. This could mean the URL is wrong, the resource was deleted, or it never existed. A 404 does not indicate whether the absence is temporary or permanent; use 410 Gone if you know the resource was intentionally removed. Search engines will eventually drop 404 URLs from their index.

Defined in RFC 9110

Common Causes

• The URL contains a typo or the path was changed without setting up a redirect
• The resource was deleted or moved without a redirect to the new location
• A broken link from another website or an outdated bookmark
• Dynamic route parameters that do not match any existing record in the database

How to Fix

• Verify the URL is spelled correctly and matches the expected path structure
• Set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new location if the resource moved
• Create a helpful custom 404 page with navigation and search to guide lost users
• Use tools like crawlers or log analysis to find and fix broken links across your site