As a web user, the chances are high that you will encounter at least one of these while browsing if you haven’t already.
But as a website owner, what do they mean, and do you need to worry?

301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is a permanent way to guide users and search engines to a new URL instead of the one they originally requested. It works like a change of address notice for the web. When a webpage is moved to a new location, a 301 redirect ensures visitors find the updated page, and search engines transfer the original page’s ranking power to the new location. Use a 301 redirect to preserve SEO value when altering a URL or merging websites.

302 Found

A 302 Found status code indicates a temporary redirection of a webpage. Unlike a 301 redirect, which is permanent, a 302 informs browsers and search engines that the original page remains intact and the move to a new URL is only temporary. This is useful for situations like maintenance or promotions, where you want to temporarily direct traffic elsewhere without impacting the SEO value of the original URL.

307 Temporary Redirect

A 307 Temporary Redirect signals that a webpage has been temporarily relocated to a new URL. Unlike a 302 Found, which can be used more loosely, the 307 redirect strictly preserves the original request method when redirecting to the new location. This ensures consistency and transparency, both for users and search engines. Use a 307 redirect when temporarily moving a page and needing to ensure the request details remain unchanged.

404 Not Found

A 404 Not Found HTTP status code is displayed when a server cannot locate the requested webpage. This may occur due to a broken link, a mistyped URL, or a page that no longer exists without a redirect. To improve user experience, many websites customise their 404 pages with helpful navigation, search options, or friendly messages to guide visitors back to active content on the site.

410 Content Deleted

A 410 Content Deleted HTTP status code explicitly informs users and search engines that a webpage has been intentionally removed and is permanently unavailable. Unlike a 404 Not Found, which could indicate an error or oversight, the 410 code is a deliberate message confirming the page’s removal. Use a 410 status code to ensure search engines quickly and permanently remove the URL from their indices.

451 Unavailable for Legal Reasons

A 451 Unavailable for Legal Reasons HTTP status code signals that access to a webpage is restricted due to legal requirements. This could stem from government regulations, copyright infringement, or other legal directives. The code communicates that the restriction is due to compliance with legal obligations rather than technical issues or content relocation. Implement a 451 status code when legally mandated to block access to specific content on your site.

500 Internal Server Error

The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic HTTP status code indicating that the server encountered an unexpected condition preventing it from fulfilling the request. It means something has gone wrong on the server side, but the server cannot specify the exact issue.

Rachel Noding
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