Redirects, 404 pages and broken links, explained
Fix dead pages and broken links
Dead Link Notes explains what 404 errors and redirects mean. It shows you how to find broken links on your site and fix them. You'll also see how to stop them coming back.
All the notes
- What is a 404 error and why do pages go missing?
A 404 means the server can't find the page you asked for. Here's what causes it, what visitors can try, and what site owners should do.
- HTTP status codes a site owner needs to know
What 200, 301, 302, 404, 410 and 500 mean in plain English, and what each one does to visitors and to search engines.
- 301 vs 302 redirects: which one to use
Use a 301 when a page has moved for good and a 302 when the move is temporary. Here's how search engines treat each one.
- How to find broken links on your website
Three ways to find dead links on your own site without special skills: Google's report, a link checker, and a manual walk-through.
- How to fix a broken link: edit, redirect or remove
Found a dead link? Here's how to decide whether to edit it, redirect the old address, or take the link out.
- How to build a helpful 404 page
What a custom 404 page should say and include, and why it must still send a real 404 status code.
- What to do when you change a page address
Renamed or moved a page? Here's how to set up redirects and update links so visitors and search engines still find it.