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The Apache Web server allows site managers customise error pages for HTTP errors by number. This error 404 document not found, means that a request for a URL has been made but no such resource exists. Regrettably, this the most ubiquitous error response type on the Web.

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Apache custom error 404 configuration

This custom error page can be configured with a single line in the .htaccess file for the relevant directory, as shown below. If this instruction is given in the root level directory, it applies to all subdirectories.

.htaccess 

ErrorDocument 404 /error-docs/404.shtml

The file path must lead with a forward slash relative to the document root for the server or virtual host. In this example, error-docs is a sub-directory of the document root.

The custom error document itself should be a standard formatted HTML document that may use Server Side Includes or any other dynamic processing. Bear in mind, however, that if errors occur in the delivery of such dynamic documents your visitors may witness an even less friendly aspect to your site!

Activate .htaccess settings

To enable .htaccess files to override the server's http.conf settings, the default host must have the AllowOverride FileInfo property set in its Directory directive. Your configuration should look something like this: 

<Directory "C:/apache/httpd/htdocs/manual">
    Options Includes Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
    AllowOverride FileInfo
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
</Directory>

Server configuration problem?

If your Web server is issuing HTTP errors, you may find the answer to your problem in the following extract from our extensive FAQ section.

HTTP status 404 questions

  1. I get a servlet 404 error at /examples/WEB-INF/classes/HelloWorld!
  2. Internet Explorer does not show my custom 500 error page!
  3. All my JSP give a 404 error!
  4. Can I return custom error pages in Tomcat?
  5. How do I correct "/home/~user/htdocs/Login.html" not found?
  6. Why does my servlet give a 404 error?
  7. What happens when a JSP has a compilation error?

Apache custom error configuration

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