404 Not Found

404 Not Found

When the server responds with a 404 Not Found status code, it simply means that the requested resource cannot be found at the given location.

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Introduction
In Action
Sample
Conclusion

Introduction

When the server responds with a 404 Not Found status code, it simply means that the requested resource cannot be found at the given location.

This is a common error that informs the client that the address they are trying to access does not exist. By default, this response can be cached, but if needed, specific HTTP caching headers can be included to modify this behavior.

In Action

When you encounter a 404 Not Found error, it means that the requested resource couldn’t be located at the given address.

This error is common with mistyped URLs or when a resource is still under development. It’s often referred to as a “dead link” or “broken link.” If a server knows that the resource once existed but has been permanently removed, it will use a 410 Gone status instead.

Many websites have custom error pages to provide more helpful information to users when they encounter a 404 error.

Sample

In the example, the client tries to access a resource, but the server can’t find it.

The server responds with the 404 Not Found status, indicating that the requested resource doesn’t exist or has never existed on the server.

Request

GET /documents/secret-formula.pdf HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.re

Response

HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 216

< html>
< head>
< title>Resource Not Found< /title>
< /head>
< body>
< p>The resource you requested has not been found at the specified address. Please check the spelling of the address.< /p>
< /body>
< /html>

Conclusion

The 404 Not Found status code is a common error message that users encounter when trying to access a webpage or resource that doesn’t exist on the server.

It indicates that the requested resource is not available or has been removed, helping users and search engines understand that the page they are looking for cannot be found at the specified URL.

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