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There is nothing like arriving at a hard core 404 error page. The beauty of the default Apache non-existent page error is just amazing. Still, there are people who don’t think that is very cool and perhaps even a bit frightening. Especially persons from the older generation. Even if your website doesn’t have that kind of visitors it’s good to have an understandable and easy navigated error page anyway. Most visitors arrive at your page and want to access just one thing, that is whatever they’re looking for. If that thing isn’t there they will exit your website and maybe never come back.

If you, however, provide them with some links and a search function they might find what they were looking for or an interesting article to read instead of it. Then you will have a happy visitor and the good thing about them is that they have the habit of returning in the future.

Your error page must be nice and understandable to everyone, even people in their eighties. I know persons who think it’s very funny joking with people ending up at the 404 page, but you should be very friendly. Don’t insult them by telling everything is their fault. Maybe it is their fault, but keep yourself from writing anything… stupid.

Some error page must-haves

All these things could prevent the visitor from just hitting the browser back button and instead surf your site for a while. The default error page didn’t allow you to go anywhere but back but the new one will if you just follow some simple rules.

1. Search box
   You can’t be without this one.
2. Navigation
   You need some very minimalistic site navigation. Links to the main page, about page and perhaps some links to your best articles/content.
3. Possible errors
   List some of the things that could have went wrong. Like a mistyped address, a broken link and a not updated search engine.
4. Link to site map
   A link to your site map is great and one of the most used ways to exit an error page.
5. Email
   Allow your visitors to send you a message about a broken link by providing them with your email address ora contact page.

A dynamic error page

There is some ways to make your error page dynamic. You can use JavaScript or php for example. Since I’m not very good at either I have traced down a few sites with some useful scripts:

• The Perfect 404 by Ian Lloyd at Alistapart
• Dynamic Php Error Page Script
• Codewalkers Error Pages

I hope these can be helpful for you. Implement the code in your website design and you’ll have a great 404 page.

I have made a new error page to this site based on some of the rules in this article. It’s not dynamic yet, that still needs to be fixed, but you could get some inspiration by the design and layout. Making a custom error page will sow your visitors that you actually care about them.

Check out this page if you want some inspiration on making your design personalized.

Good luck with your custom 404 page.