A 404 error, often shown as "404 Not Found," is the standard HTTP status code a server returns when a requested page simply doesn't exist. It usually means a page was deleted, its URL changed, or the visitor simply mistyped the address.
Common Causes
- A page or post was deleted without a redirect put in place
- A URL structure changed, breaking previously working links
- An outside site links to a page that no longer exists
- A visitor simply mistypes a web address
Why 404s Are Worth Fixing
- A poor experience for visitors, who often just leave
- Lost backlink value, if outside sites were linking to that now-missing page
- A potential drag on SEO if search engines encounter too many broken links
- Wasted crawl budget, as search bots repeatedly hit dead ends
How to Handle Them
- Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to their new, correct locations
- Design a genuinely helpful custom 404 page, with clear navigation back into the site
- Regularly audit for broken links using a tool like Google Search Console
- Use a redirect plugin — Redirection is a common free choice — to manage this without touching code