When managing a website, it’s not uncommon to encounter broken links or pages that should no longer exist. In such cases, webmasters often rely on HTTP response status codes to communicate the status of these pages to both users and search engine crawlers. Two such status codes — 404 Not Found and 410 Gone — play pivotal roles in how non-existent pages are treated. Understanding the distinction between these codes, and knowing when to use each, is vital not only for user experience but also for search engine optimization (SEO) and redirection logic.
Understanding HTTP Status Codes
HTTP status codes are the web’s way of telling browsers and crawlers what happened with a request to a server. Most are familiar with the friendly (or not-so-friendly) 404 Not Found error page. However, fewer are aware of the 410 Gone code, which serves a very specific purpose that can provide clearer guidance to search engines.
What Is a 404 Not Found?
The 404 Not Found status indicates that the server could not find the requested resource. Importantly, it doesn’t specify whether the resource is gone for good or simply unable to be found for the moment. This ambiguity allows search engines to revisit the page to check if it returns at a later time.
Common uses for 404:
- Broken or mistyped URLs
- Pages that have been moved without a redirect
- Pages temporarily unavailable due to server issues
From a search engine standpoint, 404s are soft indicators. Google and other search engines may continue crawling the page for some time before ultimately dropping it from the index.
What Is a 410 Gone?
In contrast, the 410 Gone status code explicitly tells both users and search engines that the resource is permanently removed and will not return. This is a definitive signal that a URL was deliberately removed and should no longer exist in the index.
Common use cases for 410:
- Products or services that are permanently discontinued
- Content removed for legal or policy reasons
- Old URLs intentionally deleted during a site redesign
Search engines respect the clarity of a 410 response and typically stop indexing the URL much faster than they would a 404.
The SEO Impact: 404 vs 410
From a purely technical standpoint, both a 404 and a 410 mean the requested resource is unavailable. But from an SEO perspective, the differences can have considerable outcomes. Let’s dive deeper into how each affects your search engine rankings and indexing behavior.
Indexation Consequences
- 404 Not Found: When a crawler encounters a 404, it treats it as a temporary issue. As a result, Google may continue to attempt crawling that page for weeks or even months before removing it from the index.
- 410 Gone: This sends a firm message to search engines: the page is gone and will not return. Google typically removes such pages from its index within a few days.
Therefore, using a 410 status code where appropriate can speed up Google’s deindexing process, helping maintain a cleaner and more accurate site presence for your domain.
Link Equity Considerations
Link equity (or “link juice”) refers to the value passed from one page to another through hyperlinks. If a page with incoming links returns a 404 or 410, that equity may be lost unless properly redirected. Neither a 404 nor a 410 preserves link equity, so using them carelessly can lead to a degradation in domain authority over time.
To mitigate loss of link equity:
- Use a 301 Permanent Redirect to a related or updated page when one exists.
- If no relevant replacement page exists, then a 410 is better than a 404 because of its clear signaling to crawlers.
When to Use 404 vs. 410: Strategic Guidelines
While both codes may appear interchangeable to the average user, understanding when to use each can have strategic benefits. Below are guidelines to help inform your decision-making when handling deleted pages on your website.
Use 404 When:
- You’re unsure whether the resource might return in the future
- A URL was mistyped, and there is no actual content matching the request
- You haven’t set up a proper redirection strategy yet
Use 410 When:
- A page has been deliberately and permanently removed
- You’ve conducted a content audit and decided certain pages are redundant or out of date
- You want to deindex low-value pages quickly to improve crawl efficiency
Redirect Decisions: Best Practices
Redirects are another essential tool in managing your site’s architecture and SEO health. Choosing when to redirect and when to serve a 404 or 410 requires careful thought.
Appropriate redirect types:
- 301 Permanent Redirect: Best used when a page has a clear, relevant replacement. This approach also consolidates link equity from the old page to the new one.
- 302 Temporary Redirect: For temporarily moved pages, though generally not recommended for permanently removed content.
If a retired product or article has no suitable replacement, a 410 is better than redirecting users to an irrelevant page or homepage. Irrelevant redirects can lead to soft 404s, which are flagged by Google as a poor user experience.
Soft 404 Issues
A soft 404 occurs when a page looks like an error page but actually returns a 200 OK status code or an inappropriate redirect. These confuse search engines and can hurt your SEO. Avoid them by ensuring:
- Deleted content without replacements returns clear 404 or 410 codes
- Redirects lead to relevant, contextually similar pages
How Google Treats 410 Differently
In an official statement, Google has confirmed that 410 pages are prioritized for removal from the index ahead of 404s. When a 410 is encountered, Google interprets it as intentional removal. In contrast, a 404 generates uncertainty, and crawlers may revisit the page multiple times expecting a recovery.
This distinction is particularly useful for seasonal or time-limited content that you no longer want indexed, such as:
- Expired promotions
- Temporary event announcements
- Limited-time product pages
Custom Error Pages and User Experience
Regardless of whether you use 404 or 410, the user-facing experience matters. A custom error page helps retain user trust and reduces bounce rates. Best practices for user-friendly error pages include:
- Clear messaging explaining the page is no longer available
- Links to relevant categories or popular pages
- A search function to help users find desired content
Remember, a well-designed 404 or 410 page does not have to be a dead end—it can be a thoughtful part of your overall user experience strategy.
Conclusion
Choosing between HTTP 404 Not Found and 410 Gone may seem like a minor technical detail, but it plays a critical role in how your website is perceived by users and handled by search engines. In general:
- Use 404 for potentially temporary removals or where future content might appear again.
- Use 410 to clearly signal permanent removals and accelerate deindexing by search engines.
Understanding these nuanced behaviors allows developers, SEO professionals, and site owners to configure server responses that enhance site performance, SEO effectiveness, and user experience. As SEO becomes increasingly competitive, making the right decisions about page status codes can offer a subtle but powerful advantage.