HTTP Error 404 Terms and Easy Ways to Fix It

HTTP Error 404 Terms and Easy Ways to Fix It-When surfing the internet, have you ever come across a page with the description Error 404 Not Found? Simply put, the description of the error or error occurs because the page you are going to cannot be found. When this happens, both visitors and site owners will be harmed.

HTTP Error 404 will make visitors unable to access information so they run away from a site or website. While the impact on website owners is the decline in the quality of their website’s SEO. That means HTTP Error 404 must be handled properly before it has a bad impact on visitors and the website itself.

Well, this time we will invite you to recognize the term HTTP Error 404, the cause of its occurrence, and easy ways to overcome it. Let’s see.

What is the term HTTP Error 404
Causes of HTTP Error 404
Easy Ways to Overcome HTTP Error 404
Conclusion

What is the term HTTP Error 404

The term HTTP Error 404 is error information displayed by the browser referring to a website page that cannot be opened. This type of error or error is one of the types of errors that webmasters often complain about. How not, this error will have a bad impact on the user experience.

HTTP Error 404 is often also referred to as linkrot or link rot. When the link or links are visited by the user, the browser is unable to find the page or file to access, and then displays the Error 404 Not Found description. Well, this error is of course motivated by several causes that a website owner must know.

Causes of HTTP Error 404

If you are a website owner, you certainly don’t want your website to be bad in the eyes of search engines, right? Referring to the guidelines in Google Search Console a 404 error will not affect the index or ranking of a website if the error URL does not exist on the website.

However, if it turns out that the error URL has existed on a website before, leaving it alone will have a bad impact. As a webmaster, you have to handle it well, through redirects and so on. But before discussing how to solve it, it helps us to know what causes the 404 error.

Wrong URL Entered

The most common cause of HTTP Error 404 is an error in entering the URL of a website. Entering just 1 character incorrectly will cause the browser to find nothing and display an error message. This is because every page on the internet has a unique URL that serves as its address. If a user mistypes the address, of course, he will not find what he is looking for.

Cache Problem

A 404 error can also appear because there is a problem with the caching system. The cache is used to make a website faster and easier to access, but sometimes caching makes the website inaccessible.

Then how can the cache system bring up Error 404? The answer is simple, when the browser previously encountered an error message during caching, then the message will be displayed again when the website is visited afterward. Even though the website can already be accessed if you use another browser.

Troubled DNS Settings

Another cause of the HTTP Error 404 message is an error in the DNS settings. DNS stands for Domain Name System which is an important setting so that a website can be accessed.

Theme or Plugin Conflict

Apart from some of the causes that have been previously written, Error 404 can also be caused by an error or conflict in the theme and/or plugin used by a WordPress-based website. This conflict may cause the URL to be inaccessible.

Easy Ways to Overcome HTTP Error 404

To avoid its bad effects, both short-term and long-term, HTTP Error 404 must be addressed immediately. The way to solve it is as follows.

Check Entered URL

The easiest way to resolve HTTP Error 404 is to double-check the URL you typed in the browser. See if there is a typo in the URL. If there is, fix it and then reopen it with your browser.

Reload or Refresh Page

Reloading or refreshing the browser can also help solve this 404 error. There could be a network problem when you previously accessed it. If this is the case, the website will be accessible again after you reload the page while the network is connected.

Clear Browser Cache and History

Clearing cache and history or history from browsers can also help with 404 errors. You can clear cache and history specifically on websites that you can’t open or cache based on a certain time range. After that, you can re-access the website.

Double Check DNS Settings

Unfinished DNS propagation and incorrect settings can also cause a website to generate a 404 error. Log in to your domain service provider’s account, and check your DNS settings properly. If you are confused, there is nothing wrong with asking customer service or the technical department.

Redirect Broken Pages

If indeed the page is damaged, either because it was deleted or the URL changed, do a redirect or redirect to a new page. This will help users and search engine crawlers identify replacement pages for the broken ones.

Disable Themes and Plugins

If you are a WordPress user, the error could be caused by an error in the theme and plugin you are using. At first, try changing the theme you are using to another theme or standard theme, if the error is still found then deactivate all plugins. Check the website again when all plugins are deactivated.

If your website is accessible, then all you have to do is find out which plugin is causing the error. Reactivate one plugin, then check the website again. If there are no problems, you can activate the other plugins one by one and check the website until the error message is found again. Deactivate or remove the plugin causing the error.

Conclusion

HTTP Error 404 Not Found is a common error message on a website, so you don’t need to panic if you find it. If this happens to your website, find out what caused it and deal with it in the right way. But there are times when the website cannot be accessed not because of all of the above causes, but because of problems with the server where the website is hosted.

Hope this information is useful for you.