HTTP 410 error: understand and correct

To remember from this article

• HTTP code 410 indicates definitive deletion of a resource
• It is clearly distinguishable from the more temporary 404 error
• This error can be used strategically for SEO.
• It can be corrected or exploited depending on the context.
• Implementation depends on the server used (Apache, Nginx, PHP)

What is the HTTP 410 Gone code?

When I see the HTTP 410 Gone error, I immediately understand that the resource I was trying to access has been permanently deleted. Unlike other mistakes, this one clearly tells me that what I'm looking for isn't coming back. It's a frank, direct, almost cold answer. The waiter, in a way, is letting me know that he's turning the page with no regrets.

Why do I get a 410 error?

I usually get this error when the server wants to intentionally signal the permanent disappearance of a page or file. It's not a breakdown, nor a blunder. It is often a deliberate deletion, for example in the context of a content cleaningcompliance or a rigorous SEO strategy.