What is the 404 'Page Not Found' error?
Error 404 (Not Found) is an HTTP response code meaning: 'the requested page doesn't exist'. Happens when a user or search bot follows a broken link: page was deleted, URL changed, typo in address. Shows as 'Page Not Found' or '404 Error'. Not a direct SEO penalty — Google is fine with occasional 404s, but mass 404s on previously-trafficked pages = lost rankings.
Error 404 (Not Found) is an HTTP response code meaning: 'the requested page doesn't exist'. Happens when a user or search bot follows a broken link. Not a direct SEO penalty but mass 404s = lost rankings.
How it looks
- "Page Not Found" or "404 Not Found" message.
- HTTP status 404 in DevTools.
- Server logs:
"GET /broken HTTP/1.1" 404.
404 vs other HTTP codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 200 | OK. |
| 301 | Permanent redirect — passes link equity. |
| 404 | Not Found — gradually drops from index. |
| 410 | Gone — drops faster than 404. |
| 500 | Server error. |
Soft 404
Page returns 200 but content says "not found". Google treats as real 404.
This question is also asked as:
- •what is 404 error
- •404 page not found explained
Need an expert look at your case?
Free SEO audit within 24 hours — we'll identify your growth bottlenecks and give a concrete action plan.
Related questions
We use cookies for analytics (Google Analytics, Yandex Metrika) and to improve your experience. You can accept or decline analytics cookies. Necessary cookies are always active. Privacy Policy.