webdesign articles


404 Error - The Page Cannot be Found





A "404 Error" happens when the web server you are on cannot find the page that you requested. This type of error is quite common and is seen all over the place.

404 Errors can be caused by many different problems, though generally they are caused by either dead links, or errors in the websites coding. Dead links often occur when a webmaster puts external links on his website, then the website he is referring to changes, moves, or no longer exists. Coding errors on the other hand can happen all over the place! Quite often webmasters neglect to check their links as they are making them, this means that there could be a spelling mistake in the URL, a missing slash or pretty much any typing error you could think of. It's good practice to check all links as you make them!

Internal links, or links to pages within the same website also get 404 errors from time to time. Unfortunately this is due to the webmasters neglect of his own website. If modifications were made to the website, he should have checked his website, or ran an automated program to check all of his links. Broken internal links look bad and unprofessional.

There are a few ways that a webmaster can mask his errors, or at least do some recovery work if an error occurs. If a webmaster changes the framework of his website he can create re-direct pages that will move the user to their the main index, or the updated version of the page that they requested. Additionally, they should be able to stop 404 Errors all together by creating an automatic forward whenever an error occurs.

A couple tricks for webmasters to help reduce the amount of 404 errors, or try to hide the errors is to modify the .htaccess file in their website directory. This file has one variable that can be set that will allow you to specify the page that you want to send the user, should a 404 occur.

Example: ErrorDocument 404 index.php
Example: ErrorDocument 404 404.php

The first example would automatically send the user back to the main index (if the main index was called index.php), and the second would send them to a customized 404.php file, which could display an error message, or send you an auto-notification of an error that happened. Keep in mind that if you use non-absolute directories that you may not feed out the correct page. For instance if the error occurs in a subdirectory on your website, and you specify index.php as your error document, there may not be an index.php in that subfolder, thus it might be a good idea to put the below example instead.

Example: ErrorDocument 404 http://www.yoursite.com/

Note: If you use Apache HTTPD you can setup the default error documents in the configuration file!

Ken Dennis
http://KenDennis-RSS.homeip.net/


MORE RESOURCES:

DC Web Design Firm Blue Water Media Launches a New Website for the Public ...
PR Web (press release)
A Leader in Creative Web Design, Blue Water Media Assists the Public Media Business Association in Their Mission to Establish a Comprehensive Digital Resource for the New PMBA and its Members. The Public Broadcasting Management Association underwent a ...



Indiana Web Design Company Radically Changes Approach to Web Development
PR Web (press release)
Effect Web Agency, an Indiana web design company, redefines their entire develop process to focus on achieving sales results for clients. Effect Web Agency says they know why websites do not work for many businesses. Steve Schmidt, President and Web ...

and more »


Industry Today (press release)

Calgary Web Design Firm Offers Exclusive Content Management System
Industry Today (press release)
Understanding the increasing demand for this system in today's business world iDesignit.ca a Calgary Web Design Company, is offering innovative solutions to small businesses in Calgary, Alberta and surrounding areas. iDesignit.ca specializes in ...



HigherVisibility Named Eleventh Best Web Design Company by topseos.com for ...
Press Media Wire
The independent authority on Search vendors, topseos.com, has named HigherVisibility the eleventh best web design company in the online marketing industry for the month of February 2012. Their position in the rankings of top web design companies is ...

and more »


EQuicknews

Web Design Tips
EQuicknews
Launching а website іs bоth exciting аnd potentially rewarding. A wеll planned site can have а positive effect оn уour business, wіth online sales bucking thе trend in an othеrwisе downbeat economy. Creating a website can аlѕо bе a daunting task, ...

and more »


PR Web (press release)

Think Tank Photo Offers Mobile Shoppers Responsive Web Design
PR Web (press release)
Responsive web design uses HTML5 to provide a customized user-friendly experience whether users are on desktops, tablets or smart phones. Building the site in this manner meant Think Tank wouldn't need to create multiple websites, each sized to fit a ...



PR Web (press release)

Algonquin Studios Shares Thought Leadership Reports on Web Design, SEO ...
PR Web (press release)
These are people who have started successful businesses, built enterprise-level software systems, and work hard to actively keep abreast of changes and advancements in technology, software development, web design, and online marketing,” says ...

and more »


Fort Lauderdale Website Design Company, A Work Of Art, Inc., Gives Tips for ...
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
A Work Of Art, Inc., a Fort Lauderdale website design and marketing company, provide tips why business owners need to hire a web design company who can provide them with the services needed to make their website effective in today's competitive ...

and more »


Crumpler C List Celebrity Backpack Reviewed by Intown Web Design
PR Web (press release)
Intown Web Design review of Crumpler C List Celebrity Backpack acknowledged the backpacks design and functionality. These backpacks by Crumpler were noted as some of the best backpacks for photographers. Overall, these backpacks were exactly what I was ...

and more »


Positive Web Design Utilises Brand New Wireframes For Clients
PR Web (press release)
The team at Positive Web Design has announced that they will be creating pre-designed wireframes and templates in order to speed up the development process for new clients. Positive Web Design, a web design and development firm well-known for its ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
Webdesign-box © 2006