What it means
308 is the permanent counterpart of 307: like 301, it says the new URL is final, but it also guarantees that a POST stays a POST. Some platforms (e.g. Vercel, Next.js) use it by default for permanent redirects.
Most common causes
- Permanently moving an API endpoint that accepts POST.
- Default framework or hosting behaviour for permanent redirects.
- Normalising the trailing slash in URLs.
What you can do as a visitor
- No action is needed. If the redirect goes to the wrong place, clear your browser cache.
What the site owner or developer should do
- For regular pages, 301 and 308 are equivalent for Google.
- Redirect straight to the final URL, without chains.
- Very old clients may not support 308, so test on older devices.
Impact on SEO and Google
Google treats a 308 the same as a 301: as a strong canonical signal.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 308 as good for SEO as a 301?
Yes, Google treats them the same.
Why is my server returning 308?
Many frameworks and CDNs use 308 by default for permanent redirects.