---
set: 4
code: 404
title: Not Found
references:
    "Rails HTTP Status Symbol": ":not_found"
---

The origin server did not find a current representation for the target resource
or is not willing to disclose that one exists.

A 404 status code does not indicate whether this lack of representation is
temporary or permanent; the [410 Gone](/410) status code is preferred over 404
if the origin server knows, presumably through some configurable means, that the
condition is likely to be permanent.

A 404 response is cacheable by default; i.e., unless otherwise indicated by the
method definition or explicit cache controls<sup>[1](#ref-1)</sup>.

---

* <span id="ref-1"><sup>1</sup> Calculating Heuristic Freshness
[RFC7234 Section 4.2.2][2]</span>
* Source: [RFC7231 6.5.4][1]

[1]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7231#section-6.5.4>
[2]: <http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7234#section-4.2.2>