Types of custom error pages

There are three types of custom error pages: Page Title, Page URL, and Page Content.

The type of custom error page you choose depends on the method used by your server:

  • Choose Page Title when the server does not redirect the visitor to another URL.
  • Choose Page URL when the server redirects the visitor to a custom error page with its own URL.
  • Choose Page Content when you need to search the page for specific text to determine whether it is a custom error page. The search includes both the HTML and the text found on the page.

Regular expressions are supported with all three types.

Note: Some broken links can be redirected to a Custom Error page. This practice is typically used by websites that want to display a personalized explanation to the user when a broken link is encountered. As this custom error page is an actual valid page, the scan does not receive the 404 (broken) HTTP return code when the page is requested. Instead it gets a 200 (OK) returned because the scan thinks the page is fine.

Rules for expressions on custom error pages

The following rules apply:

  • Page URL and Page Title custom error pages match on the number of characters that you enter, from the beginning of the URL or title. The value entered does not have to be exact if the actual Page URL or Page Title is the same length or longer than the value you enter. For example, the option http://www.example.com/redirect.htm?404.htm will match on this custom error page URL http://www.examplecom/redirect.htm?404.htm;http://www.example.com/directory/bad_url.htm. However, the value The Official MyCompany.com website will not match the page title The Official MyCompany website.
  • You cannot use DOS patterns for Page Title, Page URL or Page Content custom errors.