Understand the meaning and solutions of HTTP status code 404

Interpretation of the meaning and countermeasures of HTTP status code 404

HTTP status code refers to a status identifier returned by the HTTP server to the client during network communication. , used to indicate the status of the server response. Among them, status code 404 is a very common status code, indicating that the resource requested by the client is not found. This article will explain the meaning of HTTP status code 404 and provide some countermeasures.

First of all, the meaning of HTTP status code 404 means that the server cannot find the resource requested by the client. When a user enters a URL address in the browser or clicks a link, if the server cannot find the corresponding resource, it will return a 404 status code to the client. This is usually caused by a resource being deleted, moved, or renamed.

404 status code is defined by the HTTP protocol. For its specific meaning, please refer to the regulations in RFC 2616. According to the specification, the 404 status code is divided into the following situations:

1. 404 Not Found: Indicates that the requested resource does not exist. This is the most common 404 status code, indicating that the server cannot find the requested resource.
2. 404 URL moved permanently: Indicates that the requested resource has been permanently moved to another URL. In this case, the client can be redirected according to the new URL provided in the Location field.
3. 404 Gone: Indicates that the requested resource has been permanently deleted. In this case, the client can no longer obtain the resource.

For HTTP status code 404, we can take the following countermeasures:

1. Check the URL address: When the user encounters a 404 error, first check the entered URL Is the address correct? Sometimes a character may be entered incorrectly or a part may be omitted, causing the server to be unable to find the requested resource.
2. Check the website structure: 404 errors may also be caused by adjustments to the website structure, such as a directory or file being moved or deleted. In this case, we can find the correct resource path by checking the website's sitemap or contacting the website administrator.
3. Use a search engine: If a page cannot be found, we can try to use a search engine to search for the content of the page. Generally speaking, search engines will have corresponding snapshots or search results to help us find the missing pages.
4. Provide a friendly error page: When a user encounters a 404 error, it is best to provide a friendly error page, explain the cause of the error to the user, and give relevant help and navigation links. This improves the user experience and helps users quickly find the information they need.

To summarize, the meaning of HTTP status code 404 is that the server cannot find the resource requested by the client. When encountering this kind of error, we should first check the correctness of the URL address and take appropriate countermeasures according to the specific situation. By properly handling 404 errors, we can improve website usability and user experience.

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