Experiencing a website crash can be really frustrating, and it can happen for different reasons. But the good news is, these crashes are not rare, and if you can figure out why it's happening, you can usually resolve it.
Understanding the causes of website crashes allows you to learn how to troubleshoot and fix them. If you're curious about what led to your website crash and how to tackle these issues, our blog post goes into detail.
In the blog, we'll explore 7 common reasons for website crashes and show you how to identify and resolve them.
What is a Website Crash?
In simple terms, a website crash happens when your website malfunctions and stops users from being able to use it. When your website starts showing errors, stops loading content, and users can't access it online, that's a clear sign that a website crash has occurred.
For a website to function without errors, the browser must be able to process all the data the server sends.
In such instances, if a particular resource fails to load because of a technical glitch or server error, the web browser halts its ongoing processes. This, in essence, leads to what we refer to as a "website crash."
7 Reasons Why Your Website May Crash
You might be familiar with the well-known saying, "A problem well defined is half solved," and that's precisely why it's crucial to identify the causes of your website crashes.
Understanding the common reasons for website crashes is a significant step in resolving the issue.
With this principle in mind, let's jump straight into our list.
1. Code Errors
Code error happens when your website is poorly coded and contains many bugs that eventually cause it to crash.
If your website crashes due to this reason, it's essential to identify the core issue and determine what caused the code to malfunction.
Even a minor coding mistake can result in a website crash, impacting your site's traffic and overall performance.
It's crucial to ensure that anyone with access to your site's code is proficient and knowledgeable.
Furthermore, opting for reliable server copies of your website is equally vital, as poor server choices can also lead to crashes. So, choose your hosting service wisely.
2. Plugin Errors
Utilizing plugins for your website can enhance security, boost productivity, and offer a more seamless browsing experience.
There's a wide array of plugins available to ensure your website functions optimally. However, the use of conflicting plugins can lead to website crashes or malfunctions.
Additionally, some plugins perform effectively until they are no longer maintained by their creators, becoming buggy and outdated. It's worth noting that the installation and activation of plugins online, especially in WordPress, can be a potential cause of website crashes.
3. Domain Problems
No matter how closely you monitor your domain activity, you may still encounter technical issues that lead to domain or hosting server malfunctions. Various factors can contribute to domain glitches, but the essential factor is selecting a dependable hosting or domain provider. Furthermore, overlooking the renewal of your domain can result in your website crashing. It's important to remember that domain registration is a separate service from web hosting. Regardless of the status of your hosting plan, domains can still expire and result in your website going offline.
4. Massive traffic spike
While it's important to drive traffic to your website, an excessive influx of visitors can lead to a website crash.
Websites have a specific bandwidth capacity, which is the amount of data transfer they can handle simultaneously. If you experience a sudden surge in traffic, your website may crash because it lacks the necessary bandwidth to accommodate such a large number of users. This can happen when launching a new product, opening event registrations, or hosting a major sale.
In most cases, your hosting plan dictates the amount of bandwidth available to your website. When choosing a hosting plan, it's advisable to opt for one that offers more bandwidth than you typically need to ensure your site remains accessible during peak traffic periods. Cheaper hosting plans often come with smaller bandwidth limits.
5. DNS Errors
DNS, which stands for Domain Name System, plays a pivotal role in the functioning of websites, and errors in this system can lead to a website crash.
Web browsers rely on IP addresses to locate websites, and DNS serves the crucial function of translating your domain name into an IP address. Any disruption in this process can result in your website becoming inaccessible.
Common issues related to DNS errors include improperly configured DNS records, high TTL (Time To Live) values, Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks, significant DNS latency, and network failures.
To address such issues promptly and restore the functionality of your website, it's advisable to have a DNS expert available to tackle these challenges effectively.
6. Cyber Attacks
Websites lacking encryption and security measures are often prime targets for malicious attacks orchestrated by hackers, leading to potential crashes.
Cybercriminals frequently employ tactics such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and bots to compromise websites, impacting their performance and, in extreme cases, causing crashes.
Opting for a trustworthy web hosting service with secure servers is a proactive approach to thwarting such issues and preventing your website from becoming compromised.
Additionally, keeping your website's software and plugins up to date is crucial. Regular scans for viruses and malware can also help safeguard your site's performance and overall security.
7. Human Error
It is said that " to err is human," so maybe next time you experience downtime on your website, you should look for internal errors as well.
Human beings, while remarkable, are not immune to making mistakes. Errors on the server caused by negligence, lack of knowledge, inexperience, or accidental slip-ups can have a direct and adverse impact on your website's performance.
Therefore, we recommend taking a thorough approach to your policy! It is best to make maintenance and requirements as systematic as possible by documenting all procedures.
In other words, the fewer people involved, the fewer errors.
How to Reduce Website Crashes?
Yes, your website may crash, and it's not the end of the world, but rooting out the cause can help you resolve the issue more quickly and minimize the damage. There is no way to guarantee that a website will never crash, but you can reduce the chances of it happening if you take some precautions. Here are some steps you can take to minimize website crashes:
➤ Review regularly whether all software and applications are up-to-date.
➤ Keep the plugins up to date, but don't overload the websites.
➤ Activate auto-renewal to prevent domain/hosting expiration.
➤ Pick the right CDN plan for your needs by choosing a CDN plan.
➤ Make yourself a favor and always have backups of your site's files.
➤ Store your backups in different locations in the web server.
Final note
You need to keep a close eye on your website’s health and maintenance to prevent it from crashing. Regularly check for any website hiccups and upgrade it immediately when you are notified. This will boost your website's core vitals, performance, and security all at once.