HTTP 404 Not Found

Client error code, RFC 9110, section 15.5.5

What it means

The server found nothing at this address. It does not say whether the page never existed or has been removed.

A real response

This is the request and the answer our test server gave when we asked it to return 404.

GET /c/404 HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT
Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: 11

<p>demo</p>

If you run the site

Check for a typing mistake in the link, a file that was not uploaded, a changed address without a redirect, and different upper and lower case in the file name on servers where case matters. If a page is gone for good, 410 is more exact. Make a helpful 404 page with a search box and links, but make sure it really sends status 404, not 200.

If you are a visitor

Check the address for typing mistakes, go to the site's home page and search, or look for the page in a search engine.

A common mistake

A custom 404 page that sends status 200 (a soft 404), or redirecting all missing pages to the home page.

Registered in the IANA HTTP Status Code Registry as Not Found, defined in RFC 9110, section 15.5.5.

This is an independent guide. It is not connected with the IETF, IANA, any browser maker or any company named here. Meanings were checked against the RFC texts on 14 November 2026. Responses shown were recorded on 14 November 2026 from a small test server on the author's own computer.