A 404 error is the standard HTTP status code returned when a requested page cannot be found on a server — usually because the URL was mistyped, the page was deleted, or a link is outdated. Too many 404s can hurt user experience and, at scale, crawl efficiency, a relationship covered in Google Search Central (opens in new tab)’s crawling documentation.
A Custom 404 Page Is Worth the Small Effort
A default, bare 404 page feels like a dead end, while a custom one with a friendly message and a link back to the homepage or a search box keeps a lost visitor from simply leaving the site entirely. It’s a small design detail that quietly reduces how many broken links actually cost a business in lost visits.
Periodically checking Search Console for reported 404s is also worth doing, since it surfaces broken links a business might not otherwise notice, especially ones coming from outdated backlinks elsewhere.
People also ask
Should I redirect every old 404 page?
Redirect pages that previously had value (backlinks, traffic, or rankings) to a relevant live page. Pages that never had value can be left as clean 404s rather than redirected unnecessarily.
See also
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Explore Get a WebsiteMore in Website & Technical
301 Redirect
A permanent redirect that sends visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one, passing along ranking value.
Alt Text
A short written description of an image, used by screen readers and search engines when the image can’t be seen.
Backlink
A link from another website pointing to your website, treated as a vote of trust by search engines.
Breadcrumb
A row of links showing a page’s position within a website’s hierarchy, e.g. Home > Resources > Glossary.