by 
The Curious Bag
-
You know the feeling: You click on a link you're looking forward to checking out, and instead you get sent to a page with a 404 error. Out of luck? Not necessarily.
Definition
According to the World Wide Web Consortium (www.w3.org), a 404 error is a client error, indicated by the first 4. The code that follows explains that the page you're looking for is simply "not found."
Cause
A 404 error occurs when the hyperlink does not pull up a valid page address. These errors are often due to a typo on the part of the person who originally typed the address. However, the page might have been moved to another location on the server.
Fault
A 404 is often a case of "user-to-keyboard interface error," which is a technical term meaning "you messed up."
Fix
Navigate to the site's homepage by deleting the web address following the site's extension (.com, .net, etc.). Then use the site's navigation to find the page you're looking for or use the search function if necessary.
Alternative Definition
In Internet slang, a 404 is somebody who is basically clueless. So don't be a 404. Get that URL right the first time.
Source:
W3C --- Status Code Definitions
Brown University --- Common error messages
Resource:
Funny customized 404 error pages
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC