Goal
- Enable the automated detection of incorrect URLs.
- Send reliable information to the browser.
- Reduce the energy impact related to the consultation of the site.
- Improve the way content is taken into account by search engines and indexing tools.
Implementation
Modify the web server configuration to send the user to a customised page when the requested resource does not exist
If the main server configuration is not directly accessible and if the environment allows it, use a local configuration by directory. For example, the Apache environment authorises the creation of an .htaccess file containing directives relating to error handling: ErrorDocument 404 /mapage.html.
Control
For each site checked:
- Enter the URL address of the site followed by random characters (such as http://www.example.com/lsghlshdgkjsdgk).
- Check with a development tool that the status shown is
404 not found.
Business application and benefits
The rules should be applied to your projects from the design phase through to post-implementation , and they should be understood by all professionals with web and customer experience (CX) responsibilities: from strategy to operations, marketers to project managers, and editorial to technical staff. The benefits of using this ruleset are numerous, including improving customer satisfaction, web performance, and e-commerce, and expanding your client base, while also decreasing your errors and costs.
The objective of these rules and the Opquast community mission is ‘making the web better’ for your customers and for everyone! Opquast rules cover the key major areas of risk that can negatively affect website users such as privacy, ecodesign, accessibility and security.
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