What it means
410 is a more explicit version of 404: the server doesn't just say the resource isn't there, but that it was removed deliberately and permanently. Clients and search engines can drop such links faster.
Most common causes
- A product, article or campaign deliberately deleted with no replacement.
- Cleaning up old URLs after a redesign.
- Removing spam or hacked pages.
What you can do as a visitor
- The content has been removed. Look for similar content on the homepage or via a search engine.
What the site owner or developer should do
- Only use 410 when the content is really gone and there's no suitable replacement.
- If a replacement exists, 301 to the new page.
- Remove the URL from the sitemap and internal links.
- After a hack, a 410 helps clear spam URLs from the index faster.
Impact on SEO and Google
Google treats 404 and 410 similarly; a 410 may lead to slightly faster removal from the index. Don't use 410 for temporarily unavailable content.
Frequently asked questions
Is 410 better than 404?
When content is permanently removed, 410 is more accurate. The difference for Google is small.
Is a 410 bad for SEO?
No. It's the correct response for permanently removed content.