Actually, Recently I have noticed that google webmaster shows two terms, 404 errors and soft 404 errors. I have seen lots soft 404 error in my google webmasters account. Can somebody tell me the difference between 404 and soft 404 errors?

It's not totally new - although this particular method of reporting may be.

Soft 404 is redirecting non-existing URL to a URL that returns HTTP status 200 (OK), so the resulting HTTP status is 200 (OK),
while a correct 404 is returning for non-existing URLs resulting HTTP status 404 (Not Found).

Thanks for sharing this information.

HTTP 404 error occurs when page doesn't exit and displayed status as "page not found" where as HTTP soft 404 occurs while webmaster use a custom page to redirect user of 404.
Get more idea at: http://school4seo.com/?page_id=943

Quote from: AllenSantiago on May 29, 2012, 06:00:18 AM
HTTP 404 error occurs when page doesn't exit and displayed status as "page not found" where as HTTP soft 404 occurs while webmaster use a custom page to redirect user of 404.

You are absolutely right. Soft 404 redirect visitor to customized webpage which is not available.

Quote from: LucieJason on June 04, 2012, 05:21:36 AM

Quote from: AllenSantiago on May 29, 2012, 06:00:18 AM
HTTP 404 error occurs when page doesn't exit and displayed status as "page not found" where as HTTP soft 404 occurs while webmaster use a custom page to redirect user of 404.

You are absolutely right. Soft 404 redirect visitor to customized webpage which is not available.

you means, if I redirect a 404 page to another 404 page, then it will be consider as soft 404 error.

I really didn't know about this difference, thanks friends for adding to my knowledge.