Every time you visit a website, your browser sends a request to a web server. The server then sends a response back. Part of that response is a three-digit number called an HTTP status code.
Think of it as a brief message. It tells your browser and search engines if the request was successful, if the page has moved, or if there was a problem. For example, a code of 200 means everything is okay, while a 404 means the page was not found.
Why Status Codes Are Crucial for SEO
Search engines use status codes to decide whether to crawl and index your pages. If a page returns a 404 code, Google knows the page is gone and will remove it from its index. If a page returns a 200 code, Google knows the page is live and will consider it for ranking.
This is why it’s so important to send the right status code. If you accidentally send a code that says your page is an error when it’s not, you could lose your spot in search results.
The Most Important Status Codes for SEO
200: OK
This is the code you want for most of your pages. It means everything worked and the page is ready to be indexed.
301: Moved Permanently vs. 302: Moved Temporarily
Both of these codes are for redirects. A redirect sends a user and a search engine from an old URL to a new one.
- 301: Moved Permanently. Use this when a page has a new, permanent address. Google will pass the SEO value from the old page to the new one, and browsers will cache the redirect for a faster user experience.
- 302: Found/Moved Temporarily. Use this when a page has only moved for a short time. This is a weaker signal for search engines, and browsers won’t save the redirect.
If you are 100% sure a page won’t be coming back, use a 301 redirect.
404: Not Found
This is a very common code that means the page doesn’t exist. When Google sees a 404, it will remove the page from its index. While a 404 is a sign of an error, it is the correct response for a page that has been removed.
Common SEO Mistakes with Status Codes
The “Soft 404” Problem
This happens when a page is gone, but it returns a 200: OK code instead of a 404. This confuses Google, as it will try to index a page that doesn’t have any content. To fix this, always make sure a broken page returns a 404 status code.
Redirecting All Broken Pages
Some websites redirect every broken page back to the homepage. This can be confusing for users. It’s a better user experience to show a clear 404 page that says the content is gone and provides a link to the homepage or a relevant category.
What is an HTTP status code?
An HTTP status code is a three-digit number a web server sends to a browser to indicate the status of a request for a webpage.
Do HTTP status codes affect SEO?
Yes, they are very important. Search engines use them to determine whether a page should be crawled and indexed.
What is a 404 error?
A 404 error is a status code that tells a user and a search engine that the requested page was not found.
When should I use a 301 redirect?
You should use a 301 redirect for any page that has permanently moved to a new URL. This ensures you pass on all the SEO value of the old page.