General Knowledge

Broader technology concepts and definitions explained simply, including fixing common errors, creating friendly URLs, and page redirects.

301 vs 302 Redirects: What's the Difference and Which Should You Use?

301 and 302 redirects both send visitors to a new URL, but they mean different things to search engines: 301 is permanent, 302 is temporary. Picking the wrong one can hurt your search rankings.

How to Preview Your Website Before Pointing Your Domain's DNS

Learn how to view your live website on your new hosting account before you update your domain's DNS, using your computer's hosts file to check everything works before visitors see it.

How to Fix a 405 Method Not Allowed Error on Your Website

A 405 Method Not Allowed error means the server understood your request but won't accept the way it was sent, usually because of a form, .htaccess rule, or security setting blocking that action. Here's how to find and fix the cause.

How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error on Your Website

A 500 Internal Server Error is a generic server-side failure with several possible causes. Here's how to find the exact cause and fix it in cPanel or DirectAdmin.

How to Fix "This Site Can't Be Reached" (DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN) Errors

This error means your browser could not resolve your domain name to a server address. Here is how to work out why and fix it.

How to Redirect www to Non-www (or Vice Versa) on Your Website

Browsers and search engines treat www.yoursite.com and yoursite.com as two separate addresses unless you set up a redirect. Here's how to point one version to the other so your site is consistent everywhere.

How to Fix a 429 Too Many Requests Error on Your Website

A 429 Too Many Requests error means a server is refusing new requests because too many arrived in a short time. Here's what causes it and how to fix it.

How to Fix a 400 Bad Request Error on Your Website

A 400 Bad Request error usually means your browser sent a request the server could not understand, often caused by corrupted cookies, an overly long URL, or a broken .htaccess file. Here is how to diagnose and fix it.

How to Fix a 413 Request Entity Too Large Error on Your Website

A 413 error means the file or form data you tried to upload is bigger than your server currently allows. Here is what causes it and how to raise the limit in cPanel and DirectAdmin.

How to Fix a 401 Unauthorized Error on Your Website

A 401 Unauthorized error means a visitor tried to reach a page or folder that requires a username and password, and the login was missing or incorrect. Here's how to find the cause and fix it.

How to Fix a 509 Resource Limit Reached Error on Your Website

A 509 error means your hosting account has temporarily hit its CPU, memory, or process limit. Here's what causes it and how to fix it.

How to Fix a 502 Bad Gateway Error on Your Website

A 502 Bad Gateway error means the server in front of your website got an invalid response from the server actually running it. Here is how to work out why and get your site back up.

Why Is Your Website Showing an "Account Suspended" Message and How to Fix It

An account suspended message usually means your hosting has been paused for an overdue invoice, a resource limit issue, or a terms of service violation. Here is how to find out why and get your website back online.

How to Fix a 504 Gateway Timeout Error on Your Website

A 504 Gateway Timeout means a server acting as a gateway didn't get a timely response from your website. Here's what usually causes it and how to fix it in cPanel or DirectAdmin.

How to Create a Custom 404 Error Page for Your Website

A custom 404 page keeps visitors on your site and matches your branding when they land on a broken or missing link. Here's how to set one up in cPanel, or add one manually using a .htaccess file.

How to Fix a 503 Service Unavailable Error on Your Website

A 503 Service Unavailable error usually means your server is temporarily unable to handle requests. Here's how to find the cause and get your site back online.

Is Your Website Down for Everyone, or Just You?

When your website won't load, the first step is figuring out whether it's actually offline or the problem is only on your device or network. Here's how to tell the difference and what to do next.

How to Clear Your Browser Cache to See Your Website's Latest Changes

Your browser saves local copies of your pages to load them faster, which can make new updates invisible until that saved copy is cleared. Here is how to clear the cache in every major browser, on desktop and mobile.

What Is a .htaccess File and What Can You Do With It?

A plain-language explanation of what a .htaccess file does, where to find it in cPanel and DirectAdmin, and how to edit it safely without breaking your website.

How to Fix a Too Many Redirects Error on Your Website

Your website is stuck in a redirect loop and browsers are showing a too many redirects error. Here is how to find the conflicting redirect and fix it.

What Is a CDN and Do You Need One for Your Website?

A plain explanation of what a content delivery network does and how to decide whether your website needs one.

Common Website Errors Explained (404, 500, 403) and How to Fix Them

What the most common website error codes mean and the usual steps to fix each one.

How to Create SEO-Friendly URLs and Set Up Page Redirects

How to write clean, readable URLs for your pages, and how to redirect an old URL to a new one without breaking links.