How to Fix the net::ERR_ABORTED 404 (Not Found) Error for your app.css in Laravel 9

Solve the `net::ERR_ABORTED 404 (Not Found)` error in Laravel 9 when trying to load your CSS file. Understand how to correctly link to your `app.css` file using the `asset()` helper.
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This video is based on the question stackoverflow.com/q/72675310/ asked by the user 'Abdulsalam Sawalha' ( stackoverflow.com/u/15857002/ ) and on the answer stackoverflow.com/a/72675458/ provided by the user 'Maik Lowrey' ( stackoverflow.com/u/14807111/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Resolving the net::ERR_ABORTED 404 (Not Found) Error for app.css in Laravel 9

When developing a web application using Laravel 9, you may encounter a frustrating issue – the dreaded GET http://localhost:8000/css/app.css net::ERR_ABORTED 404 (Not Found) error. This can prevent your styles from loading correctly, resulting in a lackluster appearance for your app. Let’s dive into why this error occurs and how to fix it effectively.

Understanding the Problem

The goal is simple: you want to use your custom styles in your Laravel project with the following line of code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, when you load your webpage, instead of seeing your beautiful CSS applied, you get a 404 error indicating that the file cannot be found. This can happen for a couple of reasons, primarily linked to how Laravel organizes files and assets.

Why the 404 Error Occurs

File Structure: Laravel serves files from the /public directory. Therefore, the asset helper function translates to this file path: public/css/app.css.

Missing Compilation: If the file does exist in the correct directory but has not been generated or compiled properly, Laravel won't be able to load it, leading to the 404 error.

Steps to Solve the issue

To overcome this problem, follow these organized steps:

Step 1: Verify Your File Structure

First, check your file structure. Ensure that you have the app.css file located in the right directory. It should be located at:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Compile Your Assets

If you have confirmed that your file is in the correct location but you're still facing the error, it’s likely that the app.css file has not been compiled. To compile your assets, you need to run Laravel Mix. Run the following command in your terminal:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Running this command will compile your CSS and JavaScript files according to the configurations in your webpack.mix.js file, ensuring that app.css is generated correctly.

Additional Considerations

Check Permissions: In some cases, file permission settings on your server may prevent files from being accessed. Ensure you have the correct permissions set for your public directory and all subfolders.

Cache Busting: If you're still seeing a 404 error after making these changes, your browser might be caching an older version of your assets. Try clearing your cache or performing a hard refresh of your webpage (usually Ctrl + F5).

Conclusion

Encountering a 404 (Not Found) error while trying to link your app.css in Laravel can be a common headache, but with a few checks and a simple command, you can resolve it quickly. Always ensure your file paths are correct, compile your assets correctly using npm run dev, and check your permissions if needed.

By following this guide, you should now be able to implement stylish and functional designs in your Laravel 9 application without any hitches!