HTTP 308 Permanent Redirect
308 Permanent Redirect signals a permanent move while preserving the request method and body. It is the method-preserving counterpart to 301: crawlers follow it, replace the old URL over time, and consolidate signals onto the target — without downgrading a POST to a GET.
What 308 means
308 Permanent Redirect tells the client the resource now lives permanently at the URL in the Location header, and that future requests must use that URL with the same method and body. It is the permanent, method-preserving sibling of 307.
For crawlers, the permanence signal means the old URL is eventually dropped in favour of the target.
308 vs 301
301 has historically been treated loosely about method preservation, much like 302. 308 guarantees the method is preserved, so a POST stays a POST across the redirect. For ordinary GET page moves, 301 and 308 are treated similarly by search crawlers; 308 is the safer choice when the method must not change.
Use 307 if the move is only temporary.
- 308 — permanent, method preserved
- 301 — permanent, method historically ambiguous
- 307 — temporary, method preserved
Operator checklist
Use 308 for permanent moves where the request method must be preserved. Map each old URL to its true equivalent, keep to one hop, and update internal links to the final target. Confirm crawlers are consolidating onto the new URL over time.
How it appears in analytics and logs
A 308 means a permanent, method-preserving redirect. Crawlers treat it like 301 for signal consolidation, but the method is guaranteed to stay the same, which matters for non-GET requests.
Diagnostic use case
Permanently redirect while keeping the request method intact (e.g. API endpoints, POST flows), and confirm crawlers consolidate onto the new URL.
What WebmasterID can help detect
WebmasterID can show which URLs return 308 to crawlers, helping you confirm permanent, method-preserving redirects are in place after a migration.
Common mistakes
- Using 308 for a temporary move — use 307 instead.
- Chaining 308 redirects instead of pointing straight at the final URL.
- Redirecting to an irrelevant target, which behaves like a soft 404.
Privacy and accuracy notes
Redirect status codes carry no personal data. WebmasterID reports redirect patterns for crawler traffic without exposing individual visitors.
Related pages
- HTTP 301 Moved Permanently for crawlers
301 Moved Permanently tells clients and crawlers that a resource has permanently moved to a new URL. It is the standard signal for migrations and URL changes: crawlers follow it, update their index over time, and consolidate ranking signals onto the new location. Use it whenever content has a stable new home.
- HTTP 307 Temporary Redirect
307 Temporary Redirect is a temporary redirect that, unlike the historically ambiguous 302, guarantees the request method and body are preserved. A POST stays a POST. It signals impermanence, so crawlers keep the original URL while following the detour for the current request.
- Website observability
See which URLs return permanent redirects to crawlers.
Sources and verification notes
Last reviewed 2026-06-24. Facts are checked against primary/official sources where available; uncertain specifics are marked “Data not yet verified” rather than guessed.