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Make a good 404 page – 10 tips

1 min read
February 6, 2008
Last updated on April 2, 2026

The 404 page always gives the impression of having arrived in an uncharted part of the Internet. A kind of web black hole that can suck you in anywhere, and often nowhere. If the user is already in the site, he will probably go back, but what if he arrives on this page because of an invalid URL? He will probably go back too, never to come back again! With a little effort, you can minimize the perverse effects of a 404 page.

The first step is to create a 404 page in html and set your server to override the browser's default error page. This will at least display your logo and offer a navigation option. For the content of the page, it must then be considered that the user can arrive on this page in various ways.

We can potentially add to this page:

  • A message that mentions that it is your error and not that of the user
  • Search engine
  • A link to your popular pages
  • Recent content on your site
  • The primary navigation menu
  • The sitemap
  • The ability to contact you


Avoid :

  • Calling this page a 404, because the average user has no idea what it is
  • Redirect the user to the home page without explaining why
  • Making bad taste jokes with your 404 page
Want to go further? It is possible to detect the origin of the user and thus adapt the content of the 404 page.
Topics: Tech Client experience & UX
Adviso
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