How to create a 5XX-error page on a site

5XX means any sort of inner problems, due to which the server can't proceed a query.

Most often, they appear because of webmaster or administrator. They change either directory or configuration, and the site starts working incorrectly. For instance, the error may appear if the rights are configured wrong.

To fix all that, it's better to rollback all the changes. To do this, you need a log file or long webmaster's memory.

It's not difficult to see the reason for the problem. All the errors and their sources are shown in logs. In most cases, the reason is a site server issue. In this case, it's better to contact your hosting, ask them to explain the causes of the error and fix it.

If you use free hosting, in most cases, you won't be able to view the logs. To solve the problem, you will have to restore the site or find out the factors that caused the crash.

The most common ones are:

• 500.0 — internal server error.
  
• 500.11 — application is shutting down on the webserver.
  
• 500.12 — application is busy restarting on the webserver.
  
• 500.13 — webserver is too busy.
  
• 500.15 — direct requests for Global.asax are not allowed.
  
• 500.19 — configuration data is invalid.
  
• 500.21 — module not recognized.
  
• 500.22 — an ASP.NET httpModules configuration does not apply in Managed Pipeline mode.
  
• 500.23 — an ASP.NET httpHandlers configuration does not apply in Managed Pipeline mode.
  
• 500.50 — a rewrite error occurred during RQ_BEGIN_REQUEST notification handling.
  
• 500.51 — a rewrite error occurred during GL_PRE_BEGIN_REQUEST notification handling.
  
• 500.52 — a rewrite error occurred during RQ_SEND_RESPONSE notification handling.
  
• 500.53 — a rewrite error occurred during RQ_RELEASE_REQUEST_STATE notification handling.
  
• 500.100 — internal ASP error.
  
• 503 — service unavailable.
• 504 — gateway Timeout error.

If such notifications don't have a corresponding template, a user can't get back to the homepage or go to the other site sections. Visitors just leave — owner loses clients.

To avoid it, we recommend creating error page templates.

There is no single algorithm, as all depends on the server settings. Most often, to create the needed page, you need to edit .htaccess file — prescribe there the template which is to be displayed in certain situations.

Search for it in the site root directory. If there isn't any, create it. This very file will also help to point out directory access rights. Prescribe there the error codes for which you want to open special pages:

File .htaccess has to be assigned with 644 rights or rw-r--r-- provided the UNIX is used. Launch the errors.php file: http://example.com/errors.php. All the errors codes for which will be created special notifications should be prescribed.

Here are some examples of how to encode the error.php file:

Not to lose users, think of the content on the pages related to the server errors. There are three error page types: explaining, entertaining and interactive.

Such pages describe what went wrong and why. As an addition, they may include a home page link or a search form.

The advantage of such pages is that you don't need much time on design. There are sites with the completed templates.

To stand out of the crowd and be remembered, you can use various creative descriptions. For example: «Oh no! Cody is sad! Internally sad!».

The main task of such pages is to individualize the site, make is original and evocative. Here is Twitter at its the start nearly ten years ago, when there often were server problems:

Users remembered such an unusual solution and considered it to be a distinctive feature. Other large projects act in a similar way.

«Ooops, something went terribly wrong!»

«Ooops! An unexpected error seems to be occurred. Why not try refreshing your page? Or you can contact us if the problem persists».

In this case, visitors are suggested playing a mini-game.

Such solutions are interesting, as they call positive reaction and improve behavioral factors even if the user faces the error.

cPanel is used for web hosting management. This is the paid service, a price for the minimum plan is $15 per month.

How it works:

• open the panel;
  
• go to "Advanced" and click "Error pages";
  

After that, make sure that all the changes have come into effect and all the edited server problems are followed with the right message.

5XX error page helps to keep visitors on the site if some unexpected server problems occur. The most important is the proper setup and design. You can do it yourself via .htaccess file in the root directory or using special tools, e.g. cPanel.

While decorating the page, think of the content carefully. It can be useful and explaining what happened or be entertaining — including beautiful pictures, animation. Less often, people use interactive type — integrated mini-games and apps.