When a website returns a ‘404 Not Found’ error, it can be frustrating for both the user and the site owner. This error occurs when a user attempts to access a page that does not exist or has been moved from its existing location.

Fortunately, this issue can be resolved quickly and efficiently by accessing cPanel, the control panel of most web hosting services. As they say, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’; with cPanel in hand, no 404 Not Found Error should stand in your way.

Understanding the 404 Not Found Error

The current section focuses on gaining an understanding of the 404 Not Found Error. It is a standard HTTP status code that indicates that the server cannot find the requested page.

When a web browser accesses a website, it sends out a request to the server hosting the website; if the server can’t find what is being asked for, then it will return a 404 error message. This error will usually appear as “404 not found” and can be accompanied by other messages such as “Error: The requested URL was not found on this server” or “404 File Not Found”.

The cause of this type of error can vary depending on several factors such as incorrect spelling in URLs, broken links from other websites pointing to your website, or even misconfigured settings within your cPanel account.

To help troubleshoot and resolve these issues, it may be helpful to check server logging and DNS lookup records for any errors associated with your domain name. Analysing these records and logs may provide insight into why the page is not being served correctly by the web server.

Additionally, it is important to make sure all files are uploaded correctly to public_html folder inside cPanel account since wrong directory paths can also lead to this issue appearing on some websites.

Taking corrective steps such as updating URLs if they are misspelled or outdated, deleting broken links from other websites linking back to yours and creating redirects for old pages which no longer exist could help prevent future occurrences of this problem.

It is also necessary to ensure correct file permissions are set up for directories and files so that they are accessible by web browsers when requested.

Finally, regular maintenance checks should be done in order to detect any problems early before they cause significant impact on visitors trying to access content from your website.

Accessing cPanel

Examining the Accessing cPanel section provides a path to potentially locate and rectify the 404 error.

Hosting providers typically offer customers access to cPanel which is an online interface allowing management of domain names, web hosting accounts & email accounts as well as providing access tools for website development such as SEO optimization & database management.

Common tasks completed through cPanel include creating subdomains & setting up page redirects; configuring FTP/SSH connections; changing password settings; & adding/deleting files in public_html via its File Manager tool.

Through usage of its File Manager tool & other sections (e.g., Redirect), users can determine whether there is code errors within a page causing 404 Not Found Errors or if incorrect redirect rules are set up.

Troubleshooting the 404 Not Found Error

Checking the Website URL can be an important step in troubleshooting a 404 not found error.

Inspecting the website code can involve identifying potential errors in HTML, JavaScript, and/or CSS elements that may contribute to the problem.

Examining server log files may provide valuable information about HTTP requests for resources that are not available or do not exist on the server.

Checking the Website URL

Analyzing the Website URL is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack; however, careful consideration is essential to identify any discrepancies.

The first step is to ensure that the domain mapping of the website is correct and matches what is expected.

It’s important to verify that the page structure of the URL hasn’t changed or been altered in any way. This can be done by checking if parameters have been added or removed from the query string, which could lead to an incorrect path being accessed and result in a 404 error.

Furthermore, it’s important to look out for any typos or spelling errors as these are often overlooked but can easily be corrected once identified.

Additionally, if using custom URLs it’s necessary to make sure that they are configured properly and match up with the relevant pages on your website.

All these steps are essential when troubleshooting a 404 Not Found Error and should not be overlooked during the process.

Inspecting the Website Code

Inspecting the website code entails carefully evaluating the elements of the page to ensure they are properly configured and functioning as intended.

This involves analyzing code that is embedded in a web page or used to link other components, such as scripts, images, and stylesheets. These elements should be checked for accuracy and consistency with standards for proper formatting and coding.

Additionally, inspecting the website code includes customizing settings within a content management system or web server if applicable. This can help identify any errors or conflicts occurring between different configurations which could be causing the 404 not found issue on a website.

In order to effectively inspect the website code, it is important to have an understanding of HTML/CSS markup languages and how they interact with each other. By having these skills, it will make identifying issues much easier when troubleshooting a 404 not found error on a website.

Resolving the 404 Not Found Error

Examining the 404 Not Found Error can be a difficult task to undertake; however, by utilizing appropriate tools and processes it is possible to identify and rectify the underlying problem.

One of the primary steps in resolving this issue is determining if there are any site redirects that may have caused the error. Site redirects are when a user requests a page on your website, they get sent to another page that has been assigned as a replacement for that original page. If there are any broken or misconfigured site redirects present on the website, then this could be causing the 404 Not Found Error.

In addition to checking for site redirects, it is also important to consider whether or not there are any issues with pages being optimized incorrectly or not properly configured. Page optimization involves making sure all elements within each web page on your website are optimized so they display correctly in all browsers and devices used by visitors. If pages have been incorrectly optimized then this can result in an error such as 404 Not Found.

Lastly, it is essential to check for any coding errors present within the website’s codebase which may have caused the error message to appear when attempting to access certain pages on your website. By examining both client-side code (HTML & CSS) and server-side code (PHP), potential coding errors can be identified and corrected accordingly.

To ensure these issues do not occur again, it is recommended that regular maintenance checks be conducted on both sides of the codebase in order to keep them up-to-date with current best practices and standards set forth by various development frameworks.

Taking Preventative Measures

In order to prevent the occurrence of a ‘404 Not Found’ error, it is essential to take preventative measures such as examining redirects, optimizing pages correctly and conducting regular maintenance checks on codebases.

For example:

  • Server Security:

  • Firewall Configuration: Ensure that firewall settings are properly configured in order to protect against malicious attempts to access the website.

  • Regular Monitoring: Monitor server logs for any suspicious activity or potential security threats.

  • User Authentication and Access Control: Implement user authentication and access control measures to make sure only authorized personnel can access the server.

  • Page Optimization:

  • File Naming Conventions: Adopt a consistent naming convention for files that makes them easier to identify and locate.

  • Use of Keywords & Metadata: Incorporate relevant keywords into page titles, metadata tags, and content for improved search engine optimization (SEO).

  • Validate HTML Code & CSS Files: Validate HTML code used on web pages along with associated CSS files in order to ensure correct formatting across different browsers.

  • Maintenance Checks:

  • Database Integrity Checkups: Perform regular checkups on databases used by website applications in order to detect any errors or corruptions.

  • Software Updates & Patches Installation : Install software updates and security patches released by vendors in a timely manner so that websites remain secure from vulnerabilities.

  • Website Performance Reviewing : Review website performance statistics regularly in order to identify areas for improvement such as reducing loading times or increasing uptime availability.

Taking these steps can help reduce the chances of experiencing a ‘404 Not Found’ error when attempting to visit a website, resulting in an improved user experience overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the exact cause of my website’s 404 Not Found Error?

When investigating a website’s 404 not found error, it is important to understand the root cause of the issue.

In many cases, this type of problem can be attributed to web hosting or file permission issues.

With web hosting, it is necessary to check whether the domain name is pointed at the correct hosting server and if all associated DNS records are correct.

On the other hand, ensuring that the files in question have sufficient permissions for public access is also essential when troubleshooting this type of issue.

By understanding both web hosting and file permission considerations, one can effectively identify and resolve a website’s 404 not found error.

What are the most common causes of website 404 Not Found Errors?

The most common causes of website 404 not found errors are:

  • Misspelled URLs: This is a frequent source of these errors, as the web server will not be able to find the intended page if it does not match the exact spelling.

  • Incorrect redirects: Incorrect redirects can also lead to this error when they direct users to a non-existent page or link.

  • Deleted pages: Finally, deleted pages can cause this issue when users attempt to access content that no longer exists on the website.

Is there a way to fix the 404 Not Found Error without accessing cPanel?

Diagnosing website errors can be done without accessing cPanel.

Many 404 not found errors are caused by server settings, such as incorrect links or typos in the URL.

If an incorrect link is causing the error, it can be fixed by checking for any typos in the URL and changing them accordingly.

In some cases, a redirect may need to be set up to take visitors from one page to another if a page has been removed or moved.

Additionally, rechecking database settings and ensuring that file permissions are appropriately set can also help solve 404 not found errors without accessing cPanel.

Are there any steps I can take to prevent the 404 Not Found Error from happening again?

More than 25% of website visitors encounter a 404 error at least once.

To prevent recurrence of the 404 not found error, it is important to troubleshoot the possible causes.

Common causes include broken links, incorrect URLs, or removed pages.

It may also be caused by a server issue or outdated cached files from the browser.

By regularly checking for broken links and updating URLs or pages as needed, website administrators can help ensure that visitors do not experience this error in the future.

Additionally, proactively clearing the browser cache and keeping web servers up-to-date can help prevent these issues from occurring again.

Is there a way to track any 404 Not Found Errors that occur on my website?

Server logs can be used to track 404 not found errors that occur on a website.

By reviewing server logs, broken links and other potential sources of 404 not found errors can be identified and managed.

Logging these errors allows for the timely recognition of issues, providing an opportunity to address them promptly in order to improve user experience.

Conclusion

The 404 Not Found error is a frustrating experience for website owners and visitors alike. While it can be difficult to fully resolve this issue, following the steps outlined in this article will put website owners on the path towards successfully restoring their website’s functionality.

In addition, taking preventative measures such as regularly checking log files and using tools like Google Search Console to monitor crawling errors will go a long way towards preventing future 404 Not Found errors from occurring.

With these steps, websites can avoid the dreaded 404 error and keep visitors engaged with their content.