A 404 page
When there is no page at an address, the server should say 404. That is the signal Google reads as "this page does not exist". A designed page that returns 200 tells Google the page exists. That is a mistake, even if the design is pleasant.
The right code, and a way out
The visitor needs a short sentence, a link home, and a link to the guides or the contact form. They do not need an empty internal search if the site has no search. They should not be left in a dead end.
An old address that was replaced should not be a 404. It should be a 301 to the new page. A 404 fits an address that was never a page, or one retired with no successor.
| Case | Code | What is on screen |
|---|---|---|
| There is no such page | 404 | An explanation and a link home |
| The page moved | 301 | The new page |
| The page exists | 200 | The content |
| A pretty page but status 200 on an error | A mistake | Google may index the error |