The most common problem with custom 404 pages
I’ve had custom error pages for ages and never realised until today that custom error pages need to be set up correctly in order to work according to web standards, and to keep search engines crawling your site happily.
Basically my custom-created 404 File Not Found page (and all the others) returned a status of 200 (OK) in the header. A status of 200 means that the server was able to return content for the URL you requested. Usually a normal web page returns 200, saying all is ok – as is the case with my custom 404 page. I didnt realise I also need to return the correct status of 404 in the header of that page by using PHP.
GSiteCrawler explain the whole thing in detail with instructions on how to adapt your custom pages — whether they be in PHP, ASP or ASP.NET — to return the correct status in the header.
julie
definitely the most stunning 404 page ever.
Jam
Well I really think it’s the best looking 404 page I have ever seen and a welcome relief to all that geeky blandness. Even if it wasn’t doing the right thing. 🙂
olivia
Niq it’s always such a pleasure to do things for you. I think you might just be the best client in the world! :@)
Niqkita
Ooooh, I want new & improved 404s for my site! ~:P
Sooo, I forgot, for the first time ever, to bring my laptop to work and have decided to tough it out and live without today so I am not able to check my niqkita@ emails, BUT I just noticed the icon!!!!!!!! I literally said OMG (the words, not the acronym) out loud when I noticed it (and this is honestly not something I’m prone to doing)…
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!!
olivia
Get your own blog! :@P
nathan
Thank you! Thank you all, and I’d like to take this moment to point out everything else wonderful about me…. Perhaps I could get the ball rolling and all of olivia’s adoring fans could continue the string…
olivia
Okay fine. Credit goes to Nathan for pointing out that my error pages sucked and needed to be fixed.
olivia
:@P
olivia
You are such a big baby!
nathan
I’m waiting for a response…
nathan
You’re welcome!