404
- “what does error 404 mean”
- “why do I keep getting 404 not found”
- “the code for a page that doesn't exist”
- “is a 404 error my fault or the website's”
:: COMPARE ::
404 Not Foundvs403 Forbidden
The short answer
403 admits the thing exists and refuses to give it to you. 404 says there is nothing here at all. The twist: a server is explicitly allowed to answer 404 instead of 403 precisely to avoid revealing that a protected page exists.
Side by side
| Aspect | 404 Not Found | 403 Forbidden |
|---|---|---|
| Does it exist? | Not as far as you know | Yes |
| Would signing in help? | No | Sometimes |
| Reveals existence? | No | Yes |
| Can stand in for the other? | Yes — to hide a page | No |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning 404 rather than 403 Forbidden are usually searching for phrases like “what does error 404 mean”, “why do I keep getting 404 not found”, “the code for a page that doesn't exist”.
Read either one in full
Tell these apart too