404 Not Found

HTTP 404 Not Found means that the server did not find current content for the requested address, or is unwilling to reveal that such content exists. It is a response to a particular request, not proof that the whole website or domain is unavailable.

What can cause a 404 response?

The page may have been deleted or moved, the address may contain a typing error, or the site may not have a page at that path. A site may also return 404 when it chooses not to reveal that a restricted resource exists. The site can show a custom page with navigation or a search box, but that page does not change the status code's meaning.

For example, Taylor opens example.com/events/old-schedule and receives 404. The domain may still load normally, and other pages may work. Taylor can check the spelling or use the site's current events page to find the replacement. If the site recently moved the schedule, its owner may add a redirect from the old address to the new one.

Is 404 the same as a server failure?

No. A 404 is a 4xx client-error response: the requested resource was not found or is not being disclosed at that address. A 5xx response indicates that a server failed to complete an apparently valid request. Both can prevent a page from appearing, but they describe different results. The response alone may not reveal whether the problem is a missing page, a site rule, or an accidental configuration error.

Related terms

• HTTP status code — explains the response code classes
• URL — identifies the requested address
• 5xx server errors — indicates server-side failure
• Redirect — can send an old address to a replacement page