What It Means & When to Use It

What Is a 308 Everlasting Redirect?

A 308 Everlasting Redirect is an HTTP response standing code—a three-digit quantity despatched by an online server in response to a shopper’s request—that tells browsers and search engines like google and yahoo {that a} useful resource has completely moved to a brand new URL. 

Different HTTP response standing codes you is likely to be accustomed to embrace the 404 error, which implies the server can’t discover the requested web page.

As a consumer, it’s normally apparent whenever you encounter a 404 HTTP response standing code. You’ll see an error web page (just like the one pictured under). 

However you usually received’t discover a 308 HTTP response standing code. 

That’s as a result of whenever you encounter a 308 Everlasting Redirect, the browser redirects you to the right URL mechanically.

And when it comes to search engine optimisation, hyperlink fairness—the worth handed by hyperlinks—and authority could also be handed on to the brand new web page as properly.

Find out how to Verify Your Web site for 308 Everlasting Redirects

To see you probably have any 308 Everlasting Redirects in your web site, use Semrush’s Web site Audit device.

To start out, arrange a brand new mission or click on on the mission you’d prefer to test your redirects for.

After the audit masses, click on the quantity beside “Redirects.”

This report lists all of your redirects, together with their HTTP standing codes.

Overview this report and make be aware of which pages use 308 Everlasting Redirects. 

Later, we’ll go over when it’s best to use a 308 Everlasting Redirect. You’ll be able to refer again to your Web site Audit to make sure you’ve used the 308 correctly.

308 vs. Different 3xx Redirects

A 3XX redirect is a sort of HTTP standing code that instructs browsers and search engines like google and yahoo to go to a brand new URL. 

Every 3XX redirect represents a selected kind of redirect with distinct functions. Which can embrace indicating whether or not the redirection is momentary or everlasting. 

A 3XX additionally determines if the browser can change the request technique (POST/GET) upon redirection.

(We’ll go over POST and GET request strategies within the subsequent part.)

With that in thoughts, right here’s what a couple of completely different 3XX redirects imply:

• 301 Moved Completely: Signifies {that a} useful resource has been completely relocated, and it permits for a conversion of the unique request technique from POST to GET. Engines like google will replace their hyperlinks to the brand new useful resource.
• 302 Discovered: Signifies {that a} useful resource has been briefly moved, and it advises sustaining the unique request technique of POST or GET. Engines like google don’t replace their hyperlinks to the momentary useful resource.
• 307 Momentary Redirect: Specifies a short lived useful resource relocation and advises preserving the unique request technique of POST or GET. Engines like google don’t replace their hyperlinks to the momentary useful resource.
• 308 Everlasting Redirect: Conveys a everlasting useful resource relocation and advises preserving the unique request technique of POST or GET. Engines like google will replace their hyperlinks to the brand new useful resource.

301 vs. 308 Everlasting Redirects

301 and 308 redirects are each everlasting redirects with one distinction—whether or not the browser can change the request technique.

So, what does that imply?

Request strategies, often known as HTTP request strategies, are instructions used to specify the specified motion to carry out on a useful resource. 

Widespread HTTP request strategies embrace POST and GET, as famous above within the various kinds of 3XX redirects.

The GET technique retrieves information. 

For instance, whenever you enter a URL in your internet browser and press “Enter,” your browser usually sends a GET request to the server that hosts the web site.

The server then sends again the web site. And your browser shows it.

The POST technique submits information. It’s safer than the GET technique.

For instance, whenever you fill out a type on a web site and click on a submit button, your browser sends a POST request to the server. 

Then, the server processes the knowledge you submitted (like your identify and electronic mail handle).

Once you specify a 308 Everlasting Redirect, you forbid the browser to alter the HTTPS request technique. 

In different phrases, if the shopper made the unique request utilizing the POST technique, the browser ought to proceed to make use of the POST technique when following the redirect.

Sustaining a POST request technique is essential if you wish to safe and safeguard information, like login credentials. Or if you wish to save information, like order data.

Which Redirect Is Higher for search engine optimisation: 308 or 301?

Google’s John Mueller explains that Google usually treats 308 and 301 redirects the identical (so long as you employ a 308 to point a everlasting transfer). 

In one other submit, he provides that 308s could be cleaner for those who’re uncertain which request the location will get:

Should you’re uncertain which to make use of, listed here are a couple of examples of when a 308 Everlasting Redirect is the correct selection:

When Ought to You Use a 308 Everlasting Redirect?

It’s best to use 308 Everlasting Redirects whenever you wish to keep the unique HTTP request technique (like POST or GET) all through a everlasting redirect.

Right here’s an instance:

Think about you’ve got an ecommerce web site. A consumer provides objects to their procuring cart, and after they’re prepared to finish their buy, they click on “try.” The web site makes use of the POST technique to securely course of and submit their order. 

Nonetheless, as a result of the consumer isn’t logged in, you first wish to redirect them to a login/registration web page earlier than they will proceed with the checkout. 

To make sure objects keep within the consumer’s procuring cart all through the login/registration course of, you’ll be able to implement a 308 to a login web page.

This fashion, you’ll be able to keep the unique POST request technique. 

Then, when the consumer efficiently logs in or registers, your web site directs them again to their procuring cart web page, and their objects stay within the cart. This ensures a seamless procuring expertise. 

On this instance, a 308 preserves the unique HTTP request technique so the consumer doesn’t lose the objects of their cart. If the location had a 301 redirect (and the request technique was modified), the consumer may lose the objects.

One other instance of when to make use of a 308 is for registration pages. 

Say customers register to make use of your web site. After customers fill out their particulars, your web site directs them to a affirmation web page with the URL instance.com/thank-you. 

On the affirmation web page, you inform the consumer to test their electronic mail and enter the code they acquired to activate their account. 

Now, suppose you wish to change the affirmation web page’s URL from instance.com/thank-you to instance.com/affirmation. 

To make sure the consumer’s registration information stays intact and transferable, you could possibly use a 308 Everlasting Redirect.

That means, the knowledge (from when the consumer registered to your web site) is preserved and transferred as your web site directs customers to the brand new affirmation web page. And so they can activate their accounts with out operating into any points. 

Managing Your Redirects

Use Web site Audit to undergo and ensure your web site makes use of the correct redirect each time. 

Take note of pages that course of consumer data. 

Like a login web page. Or a procuring cart. 

Make certain these pages use a 308 to make sure your web site processes their information correctly. And doesn’t lose it all through the redirection.

Utilizing the correct redirect to your pages ensures guests find yourself on the correct web page with no interruptions. 

And whenever you’ve used the correct redirect, search engines like google and yahoo can extra simply perceive and go hyperlink fairness to the brand new vacation spot.