Custom 404 Page React Laravel Inertia

6 min read Oct 02, 2024

Creating a Custom 404 Page with React and Laravel Inertia

In web development, it's crucial to provide users with a seamless and informative experience, even when they encounter errors. A custom 404 page, often known as a "Not Found" page, is an essential aspect of this. This article will guide you through the process of building a custom 404 page using React and Laravel Inertia.

Why Customize Your 404 Page?

A default 404 page can be dull and unengaging, leaving users feeling lost and frustrated. A custom 404 page offers an opportunity to:

Enhance User Experience: Provide a visually appealing and user-friendly page that feels like a natural part of your website.
Offer Guidance: Direct users to relevant sections of your website, like the homepage or a contact page, to help them find what they're looking for.
Promote Branding: Integrate your website's branding and design elements, ensuring a consistent look and feel throughout.
Show Creativity: Have fun with it! Get creative and personalize your 404 page to reflect your website's personality.

Setting Up Your Project

1. React Project:

Ensure you have a React project set up. You can create one using Create React App:

npx create-react-app my-custom-404-app
cd my-custom-404-app

2. Laravel Inertia:

Install Laravel Inertia on your Laravel project:

composer require inertia/inertia-laravel

Follow the Laravel Inertia setup instructions to configure your project correctly.

3. Install Dependencies:

You may need a package to handle 404 routing:

npm install @inertiajs/react

Building Your Custom 404 Page

1. Create a 404 Component:

In your React project, create a new component file (e.g., NotFound.jsx):

import React from 'react';

const NotFound = () => {
  return (
    
      404 - Page Not Found
      The page you are looking for does not exist.
      Go Back to Homepage
    
  );
};

export default NotFound;

2. Configure Laravel Inertia:

In your routes/web.php file in Laravel, define a route that handles the 404 response:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
use Inertia\Inertia;

Route::get('/{any}', function () {
    return Inertia::render('NotFound', [
        // You can pass data to your React component here if needed.
    ])->name('404');
})->where('any', '.*');

3. Integrate in React:

In your main React application, import and render the 404 component:

import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client';
import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
import './index.css';
import App from './App';
import NotFound from './NotFound';
import { Inertia } from '@inertiajs/react';
import reportWebVitals from './reportWebVitals';

const root = createRoot(document.getElementById('root'));
root.render(
  
     {
          if (name === 'NotFound') {
            return NotFound
          }
          return import(`./Pages/${name}.jsx`);
        }
      }
    />
  
);

// If you want to start measuring performance in your app, pass a function
// to log results (for example: reportWebVitals(console.log))
// or send to an analytics endpoint. Learn more: https://bit.ly/CRA-vitals
reportWebVitals();

Styling and Customization

Use CSS to style your 404 page. You can use a custom stylesheet or directly style your 404 component in your React code.

Best Practices

Keep it Simple: Focus on providing clear and concise information.
Offer Help: Include clear instructions for finding what the user is looking for.
Make it Visually Appealing: Design your 404 page to match your website's aesthetics.
Include Branding: Maintain a consistent brand experience throughout your website.
Don't Forget Accessibility: Ensure your 404 page is accessible to users with disabilities.

Conclusion

Creating a custom 404 page for your React and Laravel Inertia application is a straightforward process that enhances the user experience. By following these steps, you can deliver a polished and informative "Not Found" page that helps users stay engaged and navigate your website effortlessly.