HTTP Status Codes for SEO: Return the Right Response
Status codes tell browsers and crawlers what happened when a URL was requested. Choose the response that reflects the real state of the page instead of using redirects to hide every problem.
Use 200 for a working page
A page that is available and intended to be served normally should return a successful response. Check that important content does not display an error message while returning 200, sometimes called a soft 404.
Use permanent redirects for moved content
A 301 or 308 is appropriate when a URL has permanently moved to a relevant replacement. Map old pages to their closest equivalent and avoid redirect chains, loops or sending unrelated URLs to the homepage.
Use temporary redirects only for temporary moves
A 302 or 307 can be appropriate when the change is genuinely temporary. Verify the destination and remove temporary rules when they are no longer needed.
Return appropriate not-found and server errors
Use 404 when a resource is not found and 410 when a resource has been intentionally removed and that signal is appropriate. Investigate 5xx responses because they indicate server-side failures, not ordinary content retirement.
Audit status codes after changes
Crawl important URLs, inspect redirect destinations and check internal links, sitemap entries and canonical tags. A correct status code is one part of a consistent URL strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this guarantee indexation?
No. These practices help make URLs and content easier to understand, but search engines decide what to crawl and index.
Should every URL be included?
No. Include preferred, useful, indexable pages and keep redirects and duplicates out of the sitemap.
When should the setup be reviewed?
Review it after site migrations, navigation changes, new language versions or changes that create many URLs.
Sources and Further Reading
- Google Search Central: SEO Starter Guide
- Google Analytics Help
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Check primary documentation for current platform requirements and context-specific recommendations.
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