What does a 404 response indicate?

A 404 response indicates that the requested resource could not be found on the server. This means that the server was unable to locate the client’s requested URL, which is often due to the resource being deleted, misplaced, or incorrectly referenced by the client. It is a standard HTTP response code that specifically informs the client about the failure to find the intended resource, making it clear that the problem lies not with the server itself (as may be indicated by other response codes) but with the particular request that was made.

In the context of web applications and APIs, a 404 status code is commonly encountered when a user tries to access a webpage or API endpoint that doesn't exist. This is essential for developers to understand, as it helps in diagnosing issues related to resource availability and ensuring the proper routing of requests within their applications.