Not Found Page

You might say

This article URL no longer exists. Make a real 404 page that still lets people return to the article list.

Return 404 for a missing resource and give people a way to recoverWhen an article link no longer works, the server should return 404, explain that the content was not found, and offer a list or search path. A Not Found message alone is not enough: Network must also show HTTP 404. If the content moved to a new address, use a redirect instead.

Know first

HTTP URL

404 Not Found

How a broken address becomes a real 404 page

Address barexample.com/old-guide

404 Not FoundPage not foundBack to articles　Search

Return a real 404 only when no corresponding resource exists; otherwise send the old URL to its replacement.

What a not-found page must communicate

The status tells systems the resource is missing: The server returns 404 for an unknown URL so browsers and search systems know the request found no resource. The page can be friendly, but it should not pretend success with 200.

Recovery links help people continue: A list, site search, or parent-page link can help people continue. The path should relate to the missing content instead of silently sending every error to the home page.

Quick checkChoose the best answer

An unknown article URL shows a Not Found message, but Network reports 200. What should happen next?

Return 404 for the URL while keeping the explanation and a link back to the article listTurn it into a result page that says Operation failed and offers a resubmit buttonRedirect every unknown URL to the home page and keep returning a success status

You can say this to an AI Agent

Make unknown article URLs return HTTP 404 with a clear not-found page, a link back to the article list, and a search entry. Check the status in Network and then test the recovery links. If an article only moved, redirect its old URL to the matching new page instead.

Learn next

1HTTP→2Redirect→