HTTP Status Codes

308 Permanent Redirect

A permanent redirect that preserves the method and body — the method-safe counterpart to 301, ideal for permanently moved API endpoints.

What it means

308 Permanent Redirect is to 301 what 307 is to 302: a permanent move that guarantees the method and body are preserved. Search engines treat it like a 301 for ranking-signal consolidation, while clients keep a POST as a POST.

HTTP RESPONSE
HTTP/1.1 308 Permanent Redirect
Location: https://api.example.com/v2/orders

Why it matters

  • It consolidates SEO signals like a 301 while keeping non-GET methods intact — best for permanently relocated APIs.
  • It removes any doubt about method changes on a permanent redirect.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming universal support — very old clients may not honour 308, though all modern browsers do.
  • Using 302/307 for a permanent move and losing signal consolidation.

How WebInspect checks this

  • WebInspect renders the redirect chain, method preservation and final destination, flagging permanent vs temporary mismatches.