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Create A Custom 404 Page With React & Laravel Inertia

9 min read 11-15- 2024
Create A Custom 404 Page With React & Laravel Inertia

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Creating a custom 404 page is an essential part of enhancing the user experience on your web application. In this article, we will guide you through the process of building a custom 404 page using React and Laravel Inertia. This approach not only helps in maintaining the aesthetic of your site but also provides a more user-friendly way to handle errors.

Understanding 404 Pages

A 404 page is displayed when a user attempts to access a page that does not exist on your server. Instead of serving a generic error message, creating a custom 404 page allows you to engage users with your brand and direct them toward other helpful resources.

Why Custom 404 Pages are Important

  • User Experience: A well-designed 404 page can turn a frustrating experience into a positive interaction. 💡
  • Brand Identity: It can reflect your brand's personality, making your website more memorable. 🎨
  • SEO Benefits: A custom page can contain links and elements that may help retain visitors, reducing bounce rates. 📈

Setting Up Laravel with Inertia

Before we dive into creating a custom 404 page, let’s ensure that you have Laravel and Inertia set up correctly. If you haven't done this yet, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Laravel

You can create a new Laravel project by running:

composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel my-app

Step 2: Install Inertia.js

Navigate to your project directory and install Inertia.js along with its dependencies:

composer require inertiajs/inertia-laravel
npm install @inertiajs/inertia @inertiajs/inertia-react

Step 3: Set Up Inertia Middleware

In the app/Http/Kernel.php, you need to register the Inertia middleware:

protected $middlewareGroups = [
    'web' => [
        \App\Http\Middleware\HandleInertiaRequests::class,
        // other middleware...
    ],
];

Step 4: Create Your React App

You can create a React app within your Laravel project by running:

npx create-react-app resources/js

Once your React app is created, navigate to the new directory:

cd resources/js

Step 5: Configure Inertia

Create an Inertia setup in your resources/js/app.js:

import React from 'react';
import { createInertiaApp } from '@inertiajs/inertia-react';

createInertiaApp({
    resolve: name => require(`./Pages/${name}`),
    setup({ el, App, props }) {
        ReactDOM.render(, el);
    },
});

Creating a Custom 404 Page

Now that we have our environment set up, let’s focus on creating the custom 404 page.

Step 1: Create a 404 Component

Inside your resources/js/Pages directory, create a new file called NotFound.js:

import React from 'react';

const NotFound = () => {
    return (
        

            
404 - Page Not Found

            
Oops! The page you’re looking for doesn’t exist.

            Go Back Home
        

    );
};

const styles = {
    container: {
        textAlign: 'center',
        marginTop: '50px',
    },
    heading: {
        fontSize: '48px',
        color: '#ff0000',
    },
    message: {
        fontSize: '20px',
    },
    link: {
        fontSize: '18px',
        color: '#0000ff',
        textDecoration: 'underline',
    },
};

export default NotFound;

Step 2: Configure Routes in Laravel

To handle the 404 error, you need to update your routes in routes/web.php:

use Inertia\Inertia;

Route::get('/{any}', function () {
    return Inertia::render('NotFound');
})->where('any', '.*');

Step 3: Test Your Custom 404 Page

Now that you have set everything up, it's time to test your custom 404 page. Run your Laravel server:

php artisan serve

Then navigate to a non-existing route in your application (e.g., http://localhost:8000/non-existing-page). You should see your custom 404 page.

Enhancing Your Custom 404 Page

Adding Images and Icons

To make your 404 page more engaging, consider adding images or icons that match your brand identity. You can include an illustration that depicts the error. Here's how you can modify your NotFound.js component:

const NotFound = () => {
    return (
        

            Not Found
            
404 - Page Not Found

            
Oops! The page you’re looking for doesn’t exist.

            Go Back Home
        

    );
};

const styles = {
    // existing styles...
    image: {
        width: '300px',
        marginBottom: '20px',
    },
};

Adding Navigation Links

You can also add links to other popular sections of your website to help users find their way:

Analyzing User Behavior

After implementing your custom 404 page, it's important to analyze user behavior. By integrating Google Analytics or a similar service, you can track how many users visit the 404 page and determine where they are coming from.

Tracking 404 Errors

You can set up an event in Google Analytics to track visits to the 404 page:

import { useEffect } from 'react';
import { Inertia } from '@inertiajs/inertia';

const NotFound = () => {
    useEffect(() => {
        // Send event to Google Analytics
        if (window.gtag) {
            window.gtag('event', '404_error', {
                page_location: window.location.href,
            });
        }
    }, []);

    return (
        // existing code...
    );
};

Conclusion

Creating a custom 404 page with React and Laravel Inertia enhances your web application's user experience. It allows you to maintain your brand identity while providing helpful navigation to your users.

Remember, a well-crafted 404 page can lead to lower bounce rates and increased user retention. Don't overlook this vital aspect of your web development journey! By following the steps and tips laid out in this article, you’ll not only improve your web application but also ensure that your users have a positive experience, even when they encounter errors.

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