404 Error Pages (Draft)

Standard:

HHS must use a user-friendly error message for when the server can not find what was requested. 

Rationale:

A 404 error page is returned for several reasons:

• A internal broken link
• A mistyped URL or an out of date bookmark/favorite
• A search engine link that is out of date

A user-friendly Web site will give the user a helping hand.  The message should be a simple statement that the requested URL could not be found on your site, e.g., “Did you meant to type ‘suggestion here’?”

Sources:

N/A 

Exemptions:

N/A 

Requirements (content & style):

The error page text must provide the following:

• User-friendly content: We are sorry but the page you are requesting could not be found.
• Suggested alternatives: Did you mean to type “suggestion here”?
• A link to the site search.
• Links to the site’s main pages.

Related Standards:

N/A 

Related Guidelines:

N/A

Checklist: