What Is a 308 Redirect?
A 308 redirect sends visitors and search systems from one URL to another permanently while keeping the request method the same. It is the permanent version of a method safe move.
Simple answer: A 308 redirect is a permanent forwarding rule. Use it when the page moved for good and the request method should stay unchanged.
- What a 308 redirect means
- When to use it
- How it differs from 301 and 307
- What to check after launch
- Why the route should stay simple
Plain meaning: this lesson connects the beginner definition to the business system Groew builds around it.
A 308 redirect says the move is permanent
A 308 redirect tells the browser that the page has a new permanent home. The old URL should stop being the main version. The new URL should take over.
The extra value in a 308 is that it keeps the request method the same. That matters for requests that are not just simple page loads. For a beginner, the main idea is still straightforward. Permanent move, permanent destination, same method.
The route should be clean enough that people and search systems know the new page is the real home.
Use a 308 when the page moved for good and the method matters
A 308 makes sense when the URL move is permanent and the request method should not change on the way to the destination. That is why it is less common than a plain permanent redirect but still useful in some route systems.
For a simple page move, a 301 often does the job. The 308 becomes more useful when the server wants a permanent redirect with stricter method handling.
The job still has to be honest. If the page may return, a permanent redirect is the wrong signal.
| Situation | 308 fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent page move | Yes | The old URL should stop being the main version |
| Method sensitive route | Yes | The request method should stay the same |
| Temporary move | No | A temporary redirect is more accurate |
| Page merge | Yes | The stronger page should own the intent |
A 308 is the permanent sibling of a 307
A 307 is temporary and method safe. A 308 is permanent and method safe. A 301 is permanent and more widely used for normal page moves. That comparison keeps the code choice practical.
The most important thing is still the route decision. If the page moved forever, use a permanent redirect. If the page may return, use a temporary one. The extra details matter, but the business job comes first.
The cleaner the status code, the easier it is for the rest of the site to follow.
Check the destination, the internal links and the canonical signal
After launch, test the old URL and confirm it reaches the correct permanent page. Then make sure the destination is the page the business wants to own. Internal links should point straight to that final URL.
The canonical tag, sitemap entry and redirect rule should all agree. If they do not, the site is still carrying mixed signals.
A 308 only helps when the rest of the route setup is clean enough to trust.
The common mistake is making the permanent move more complicated than it needs to be
A 308 can become unnecessary complexity if the team uses it when a normal permanent redirect would be easier to maintain. The point is not to be clever. The point is to be correct.
Another mistake is leaving old internal links, old sitemap entries and old notes in place after the move. The redirect should not carry all the burden alone.
When the page has moved for good, the whole site should act like that is true.
Permanent redirects preserve owned demand while the route settles on one home
A 308 protects the value the old URL already earned. It preserves continuity while telling the site that the new URL is now the permanent home.
Groew treats that kind of route discipline as Revenue Infrastructure because search value compounds when old demand lands cleanly on the right page.
The goal is not just to move a URL. The goal is to move it without losing the asset attached to it.
Research and expert notes
Use these notes to understand how current search updates, AI answer surfaces and audit platforms change the way this topic should be checked.
Search standards to keep in mind
Use these rules as guardrails before changing page structure, links or crawl settings. They keep the lesson connected to current search standards instead of one off tactics.
The hard part in redirects is rarely the status code label. It is the discipline of making every other signal agree with the move. In one recovery, the site had more than 200 technical errors and broken redirect paths before the foundation was repaired. Once the route was cleaned up, the decline stopped within 90 days. A 308 works the same way. The permanent move only helps when the whole route system accepts the new home.
Questions about What Is a 308 Redirect?
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