Custom error pages in Apache allow web administrators to provide a more user-friendly experience when a visitor encounters an error on the website. Instead of displaying generic error messages, custom pages can be designed to match the site's theme, provide helpful information, or direct users to other parts of the site.
Apache web server allows the configuration of custom error pages for various HTTP status codes like 404 (Not Found), 500 (Internal Server Error), and others. This customization enhances the user experience and can even retain visitors who might otherwise leave the site after encountering an error.
To configure custom error pages in Apache, you'll need the custom error pages you want to display saved in HTML or other web-compatible formats, and configure the Apache options accordingly.
$ sudo vi /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-mysite.conf
ErrorDocument 404 /custom_404.html
This could be within a specific <VirtualHost> block if you want the custom pages to apply to a particular site, or outside of those blocks to apply server-wide.
$ sudo apache2ctl configtest
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2
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