What to do when the requested URL was not found on the server?

Requested URL not found on the server or more specifically, error code 404 means that the URL which we are trying to open was not found in the server and therefore cannot be opened. This could mean there is a problem with Drupal installation or its configuration. The HTTP error 404, more commonly called “404 error”, means that the page you are trying to open could not be found on the server. This is a client-side incident which means either the page has been deleted or moved, and the URL has not been modified accordingly, or that you have misspelled the URL. The 404 Not Found error might appear for several reasons even though no real issue exists, so sometimes a simple refresh will often load the page you were looking for. Check for errors in the URL. Often this error appears because the URL was typed wrong or the link that was selected points to the wrong URL. A 404 error is a type of HTTPS status code. It occurs when there’s an issue in communication between the web browser and the webserver. This creates a dead website link, meaning the webpage cannot load. The page often displays an error code to the user.

There are a variety of names for 404 errors or ways you may see an error, such as:

404 not found
Error 404
HTTP 404
404 page not found
404 file or directory not found
Requested URL not found on the server
Error 404 not found
HTTP 404 not found
Cannot find the page you’re looking for
Some common reasons 404 error codes may occur include:
The website no longer has the content.
The content moved to another URL on the website.
The website’s server is not running correctly.
The connection between the server and the website broke.
The domain name system (DNS) cannot convert the requested domain name into an IP address.
The domain name no longer exists.
The user wrote, linked, or typed the URL incorrectly.

It’s important to maintain a proactive approach for 404 errors. Take advantage of tools that crawl your website. These tools often highlight 404 errors to repair or broken links to investigate.

The size of your website can affect how often you check your site for 404 error codes. For example, if you have a smaller website, such as a site with 50 web pages or less, you may scan for 404 errors once a month. However, if you have a larger website, you may scan for error codes on a weekly or daily basis.

Tips for fixing 404 errors as a web user

Receiving a 404-error code does not always mean the information or website is unavailable. It’s important to remember these errors may disrupt the user experience or frustrate users. However, users may be able to resolve 404 errors themselves. Here are some tips for fixing 404 errors as a web user:

Refreshing the page

You may receive a 404 error because the page did not load properly. Refreshing or reloading the webpage may fix the issue. You may refresh the page by clicking the refresh button at the top of your web browser or pressing the F5 button on your keyboard.

Checking the URL

Review the URL to ensure it is correct. Look for any spelling mistakes or errors with misplaced forward slashes or dashes. However, it’s important to remember this may only work correctly for clean URLs. Clean URLs are search-friendly URLs that you can easily read and understand.

Checking the directory levels

Go back to previous directory levels or pages to see if there is a different way to navigate your desired webpage. Work your way back through the pages until you reach the homepage again. For instance:

You try to access bestaffordablehotels.com/united-states/florida/orlando/under-100. However, the link doesn’t work. Remove “under-100” from the URL to see if you can access bestaffordablehotels.com/united-states/florida/orlando. Continue to remove sections of the URL between slashes until you find a directory level that works.

Searching the website

Most websites include a search function specifically for the website’s content. Use this function to try to locate the page. Enter related keywords into the function, on the page you’re looking for.

Using a search engine

A search engine may help you find the current location of the content. Enter the domain and relevant keywords to help you find the webpage. However, it’s important to remember this will only work if the desired website still exists.

Trying to access the webpage from a different device

The inability to access a webpage may be the result of an issue with your device. For example, you may receive a 404 code on a computer struggling to connect to the internet, but try to access the webpage using a mobile device backed by a data network. Also, consider trying to access the URL from a different browser or a mobile application.

Clearing your cache and deleting cookies

A 404-error code may indicate an issue with your browser. Consider clearing your cache and deleting cookies. You may delete all of your cookies or the cookies related to that particular website. This may allow you access to the URL.

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