What is a 404 error?

A 404 error is the message a server gives when a requested page does not exist or is no longer available at that URL. The server returns the HTTP status code 404 (Not Found). Visitors usually see a page telling them that the page could not be found.

Why is a 404 error important?

Visitors leave: someone who lands on an error page often leaves straight away.
Lost link value: backlinks pointing to a page that no longer exists stop passing value.
Not a disaster: according to Google, a normal 404 does not harm the rest of your site, so focus on the pages that matter.

Examples of a 404 error

A visitor types /contakt instead of /contact.
A store deletes a sold-out product without a redirect.
An external website links to a blog post whose URL has changed.

How do you deal with a 404 error?

Check Google Search Console for pages reported as “not found”. If a similar page exists, redirect to it with a 301 redirect. Otherwise leave the 404 in place and build a helpful error page with a search box and links to key pages. This is part of technical SEO.

404 error