We've all been there: you open your website, and suddenly, you're faced with a technical error message—or even worse, a blank page🥴
It's a frustrating experience, but here's the truth: no software works flawlessly forever without some maintenance and updates 😵
And guess what? Your website is no different.
Your website is built on a system of software layers. The most critical part of this system is your Content Management System (CMS). As the site owner, it's up to you to manage its setup, maintenance, and updates. Thankfully, other components like the server and hosting infrastructure are usually maintained by your hosting provider, so you don't need to worry too much about those.
However, if you’ve been managing a website for a while, you've likely encountered moments where things just stop working as they should. Sometimes, the site starts throwing errors after you edit some code, update a plugin, install a new one, or tweak some settings. And sometimes, errors pop up without any apparent reason, leaving you scratching your head 🫤
Website Errors: What Do They Look Like?
Website errors can show up in different ways.
Sometimes, it’s a visible error message. Other times, it's a subtle malfunction that impacts how your site performs.
Whether you're running a WordPress site or another CMS, technical issues are bound to happen from time to time, and they often need expert attention to fix.
If you encounter a specific error—like a 404 error on a page that used to work perfectly—and don’t have the technical expertise, it's best to reach out to your support team for help with debugging the issue.
Be Cautious with DIY Fixes
Before diving into any troubleshooting yourself, take a deep breath. If you haven't backed up your site's data, especially if it contains valuable content or a large database, you could make things worse by experimenting with fixes 😅
Sometimes, the issue might only affect a certain part of your website. For example, if there's a glitch in the checkout process on your e-commerce site, customers won’t be able to complete their purchases.
Other problems are less obvious. For instance, errors in your meta tags might go unnoticed but gradually cause your site’s SEO performance to decline, resulting in less traffic from search engines over time.
And in more severe cases, your entire site may go down, showing blank white screens on all pages, or worse, locking you out of the admin dashboard altogether 🥶
In any of these situations, it’s important to get help from a professional who knows how to diagnose and fix the problem.
Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them
If you’re using WordPress, you might face some of the most common errors listed below. Here’s a quick overview of what they are and how you might go about fixing them.
1. Internal Server Error (500 Error)
The infamous 500 Internal Server Error is a common but frustrating one because it doesn’t tell you much about what went wrong. This error generally means there's an issue in your site's source code, but the server can’t pinpoint the exact cause. Troubleshooting this error can take time, as you'll need to go through possible causes one by one.
2. This Site is Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Starting from WordPress version 5.2, there’s a feature to prevent fatal errors from being exposed on the front end 🤓. If you see this message, WordPress typically sends an email to the admin with more details about the error, including a link to the admin panel where you can try to resolve the issue.
However, if you can't access the admin panel, fixing the problem becomes a bit more complicated.
3. Syntax Error
This error often occurs when you try to edit or add new code to your WordPress files (like theme files or functions.php), and the code contains a mistake. The PHP interpreter will throw a syntax error, stopping your site from working correctly.
Luckily, PHP usually tells you exactly where the error is, making it relatively easy to fix. Just find the problematic file, correct the mistake, and your site should be back up and running in no time.
4. Error Establishing a Database Connection
This error happens when WordPress can’t connect to its database. If you’re not familiar with databases, this error can seem daunting.
The most common cause is incorrect login details for the database—perhaps you changed the database password but forgot to update it in the WordPress configuration file. In rare cases, the MySQL server might be down, causing the issue.
5. White Screen of Death
Ah, the dreaded White Screen of Death 😐
This error is exactly what it sounds like: you try to visit your site, and all you see is a completely blank white page with no error messages at all. This can be one of the toughest issues to troubleshoot because there are no clues about what went wrong.
Most of the time, this error is caused by a piece of code that’s using up too much of the server’s memory. It could also be due to server settings that need adjusting.
If only certain parts of your site are showing a white screen, that at least gives you a clue as to where the problem might be 🧐. But in many cases, this is one of those times where you'll need a skilled support team to help you out
Why You Need a Pro for Troubleshooting
Fixing website issues requires both experience and patience. During the troubleshooting process, it's crucial to be careful with your files and data. Most common errors can be identified and fixed within a few hours, but in more complex cases, the problem may run deeper, requiring more time and effort to resolve.
If your website is throwing errors, whether it’s built on WordPress or another platform, and you need an expert to quickly diagnose and fix the issue, feel free to reach out 😎
Whether the problem is big or small, it can be fixed—so don’t stress!
In conclusion, website errors are a common part of managing a site. From minor plugin issues to server malfunctions, problems can arise unexpectedly. However, with the right approach and expert support, you can resolve these issues and keep your site running smoothly. So don’t panic—help is always available!
Jafar Naghizadeh
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