What is a 308 redirect?

A 308 redirect is an HTTP status code that indicates that a page or URL has moved permanently to a new location. It is the more modern version of the well-known 301 redirect and was introduced in HTTP 2.0. The main difference is that a 308 redirect, like the 307, always maintains the original method of the request.

Where a 301 may change the method in some cases (for example, a POST that changes to a GET), the 308 guarantees that this does not happen. This makes the 308 redirect more reliable in situations where the method used is essential.

How does a 308 differ from a 301 redirect?

Although a 301 and a 308 are both permanent, there is a technical difference:

• 301 redirect: permanent, but the HTTP method (such as POST) can be modified to GET by the server.
• 308 redirect: permanent, but the original method is always retained.

This difference is small for most websites, but it can be crucial to keep the original method for web shops, applications or forms.

When to use a 308 redirect

A 308 redirect is deployed when permanent removals where you also want to keep the request method intact. Examples:

• The permanent transfer of a page or an entire website.
• Migrating from http://to https://in combination with API calls or forms
• For web applications or dynamic systems where POST requests are absolutely not allowed to change.

In many standard SEO scenarios, a 301 redirect is sufficient, but in more complex environments, a 308 is more reliable.

SEO impact of a 308 redirect

For search engines, a 308 redirect has the same value as a 301, which means that almost all of the link value, authority, and signals from the old URL are transferred to the new one. Google treats 301 and 308 equally: both are seen as permanent moves where the old URL disappears from the index and is replaced by the new one.

Best practices for 308 redirects

If you want to use a 308 redirect correctly, please note the following points:

• Only use 308 redirects when permanent removals.
• For standard websites and blogs, a 301 is often sufficient; use 308 especially for technical scenarios where the method is important.
• Avoid redirect chains (multiple redirects in a row), as this slows loading time and can waste crawl budget.
• Check your redirects regularly with tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.

Related redirects

• 301 redirect: permanent, most used for SEO, but method may change.
• 302 redirect: temporary, old URL remains in the index.
• 307 redirection: temporary, keeps method just like 308.

Conclusion

A 308 redirect is the modern version of the 301 introduced in HTTP 2.0. It is permanent, always maintains the original method, and, like a 301, passes all SEO value to the new URL. A 301 is sufficient for most websites, but in technical environments such as web shops and APIs, a 308 can be the safer and more reliable alternative.