🚧 Add 404 Not Found Page And Fix Route Issue In Vercel Deployment

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Introduction

When deploying a Single-Page Application (SPA) to Vercel, it's essential to ensure that client-side routing works correctly. However, issues can arise when routes are not properly configured, leading to a frustrating experience for users. In this article, we'll explore how to implement a custom 404 Not Found page and fix route issues on Vercel deployment.

Why a Custom 404 Not Found Page is Necessary

A custom 404 Not Found page is crucial for providing a friendly user experience when users navigate to invalid routes. By default, Vercel displays a generic 404 page, which may not be suitable for your application's branding or tone. A custom 404 page allows you to display a more personalized message, including relevant information, such as a search bar or a link to the homepage.

Implementing a Custom 404 Not Found Page

To implement a custom 404 Not Found page, you'll need to create a new file in your project's directory. Let's call it 404.html. This file will serve as the custom 404 page for your application.

<!-- 404.html -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>404 Not Found</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <header>
        <nav>
            <ul>
                <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
                <li><a href="/about">About</a></li>
                <li><a href="/contact">Contact</a></li>
            </ul>
        </nav>
    </header>
    <main>
        <h1>404 Not Found</h1>
        <p>The page you're looking for doesn't exist.</p>
        <p>Try searching for something else:</p>
        <form>
            <input type="search" placeholder="Search...">
            <button type="submit">Search</button>
        </form>
    </main>
    <footer>
        <p>&copy; 2023 Your Company</p>
    </footer>
</body>
</html>

In this example, we've created a basic HTML structure for the custom 404 page. You can customize the layout, design, and content to fit your application's branding and tone.

Fixing Route Issues on Vercel Deployment

To fix route issues on Vercel deployment, you'll need to configure the vercel.json file. This file is used to configure Vercel's build and deployment process.

// vercel.json
{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [
    {
      "src": "next.config.js",
      "use": "@vercel/static-build"
    }
  ],
  "routes": [
    {
      "src": "/404.html",
      "dest": "/404"
    }
  ]
}

In this example, we've configured the vercel.json file to serve the custom 404 page from the 404.html file. We've also specified src and dest properties to map the custom 404 page to the /404 route.

Testing the Custom 404 Page and Route Configuration

To test the custom 404 page and route configuration, you can navigate to an invalid route in your application. For example, if you've deployed your application to https://example.vercel.app, you can navigate to https://example.vercel.app/invalid-route. If everything is configured correctly, you should see the custom 404 page displayed.

Conclusion

In this article, we've explored how to implement a custom 404 Not Found page and fix route issues on Vercel deployment. By following these steps, you can provide a friendly user experience for users who navigate to invalid routes. Remember to customize the layout, design, and content of the custom 404 page to fit your application's branding and tone.

Best Practices

  • Always test the custom 404 page and route configuration before deploying your application to production.
  • Use a consistent design and layout for the custom 404 page to ensure a seamless user experience.
  • Consider adding a search bar or a link to the homepage on the custom 404 page to help users find what they're looking for.

Common Issues and Solutions

  • Issue: The custom 404 page is not displayed correctly.
  • Solution: Check the vercel.json file configuration and ensure that the src and dest properties are correctly mapped.
  • Issue: The custom 404 page is not served from the correct route.
  • Solution: Check the routes property in the vercel.json file and ensure that the correct route is specified.

Additional Resources

Q: What is a 404 Not Found page?

A: A 404 Not Found page is a custom page that is displayed when a user navigates to an invalid or non-existent route in your application. It's an opportunity to provide a friendly user experience and help users find what they're looking for.

Q: Why do I need a custom 404 Not Found page?

A: A custom 404 Not Found page is necessary to provide a consistent and branded user experience. It also allows you to display relevant information, such as a search bar or a link to the homepage, to help users find what they're looking for.

Q: How do I implement a custom 404 Not Found page?

A: To implement a custom 404 Not Found page, you'll need to create a new file in your project's directory. Let's call it 404.html. This file will serve as the custom 404 page for your application. You can customize the layout, design, and content to fit your application's branding and tone.

Q: What is the vercel.json file and how do I configure it?

A: The vercel.json file is used to configure Vercel's build and deployment process. To fix route issues on Vercel deployment, you'll need to configure the vercel.json file to serve the custom 404 page from the 404.html file. You can specify src and dest properties to map the custom 404 page to the /404 route.

Q: How do I test the custom 404 page and route configuration?

A: To test the custom 404 page and route configuration, you can navigate to an invalid route in your application. For example, if you've deployed your application to https://example.vercel.app, you can navigate to https://example.vercel.app/invalid-route. If everything is configured correctly, you should see the custom 404 page displayed.

Q: What are some best practices for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page?

A: Some best practices for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page include:

  • Always test the custom 404 page and route configuration before deploying your application to production.
  • Use a consistent design and layout for the custom 404 page to ensure a seamless user experience.
  • Consider adding a search bar or a link to the homepage on the custom 404 page to help users find what they're looking for.

Q: What are some common issues and solutions for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page?

A: Some common issues and solutions for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page include:

  • Issue: The custom 404 page is not displayed correctly.
  • Solution: Check the vercel.json file configuration and ensure that the src and dest properties are correctly mapped.
  • Issue: The custom 404 page is not served from the correct route.
  • Solution: Check the routes property in the vercel.json file and ensure that the correct route is specified.

Q: Where can I find additional resources for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page?

A: You can find additional resources for implementing a custom 404 Not Found page in the following places:

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with my custom 404 Not Found page?

A: To troubleshoot issues with your custom 404 Not Found page, you can try the following:

  • Check the vercel.json file configuration to ensure that the src and dest properties are correctly mapped.
  • Check the routes property in the vercel.json file to ensure that the correct route is specified.
  • Test the custom 404 page and route configuration by navigating to an invalid route in your application.