410 Error: Causes, Impacts and Solutions for “Gone”

The HTTP 410 error, also known as "Gone", means that the requested resource has been permanently removed from the server. Unlike the 404 error, which indicates that a resource cannot be found, the 410 error specifies that the resource will never return. This error can disrupt the user experience and have consequences for your site's search engine optimisation (SEO).

In this article, we will cover:

• What the HTTP 410 error is.
• The main causes of this error.
• Practical solutions to fix it.
• Best practices to prevent it from happening again.

Need help with other errors? Check out our complete guides on HTTP errors 404, 500, 403, 502, 504, 429, 401, and 400 to understand their causes, impacts and solutions.

What is the HTTP 410 error?

The HTTP 410 error indicates that the requested resource (a page, file or other content) has been permanently removed from the server. This error is often used intentionally to tell search engines that the resource is no longer available, so that they stop indexing it.

Common forms of the HTTP 410 error:

• 410 Gone
• HTTP Error 410
• This page no longer exists

Why is fixing the HTTP 410 error important?

Impact on the user experience:

• Visitors can become frustrated when they encounter this error, especially if they are looking for a specific page.
• This can increase your site's bounce rate.

Impact on SEO:

• If Googlebot encounters a 410 error on an important page, it can harm your site's indexing and ranking.
• However, a well-handled 410 error can tell search engines that the page has been permanently removed, thereby avoiding repeated errors.

Useful resources:

• Find out how Google interprets HTTP errors in the official Google Developers documentation.

Common causes of the HTTP 410 error

Intentional content removal:

• The page or file was deliberately deleted by the administrator.

Missing redirect:

• A deleted page was not redirected to another relevant page.

Site structure changes:

• Restructuring or redesigning the site can lead to certain pages being removed.

Configuration problems:

• A misconfiguration in the .htaccess file or the server settings can trigger this error.

WordPress plugins or extensions:

• Some plugins may wrongly report a resource as "Gone" when it simply cannot be found.

How do I fix the HTTP 410 error?

1. Identify the affected pages:

• Use Google Search Console to spot the 410 errors reported by crawlers.

2. Set up 301 redirects:

• If the removed resource has an equivalent or a relevant page, redirect it with a 301 redirect.
• Example in the .htaccess file

Redirect 301 /ancienne-page.html /nouvelle-page.html

3. Inform your users:

• Create a custom page explaining that the resource is no longer available, and offer alternatives or helpful links.

4. Check your plugins or scripts:

• If you use WordPress, temporarily disable your plugins to identify the one that might be causing the error.

5. Edit the .htaccess file:

• If you need to indicate that a resource has been permanently removed, add this line to the .htaccess file:

Redirect 410 /ancienne-page.html

6. Update your sitemap:

• Remove the URLs of deleted pages from your sitemap.xml file to stop search engines from trying to crawl them.

Useful resource:

• See the documentation on permanent redirects in the Apache HTTP Server.

Best practices to avoid the HTTP 410 error

1. Plan your page removals:
   – Before deleting a resource, identify the alternatives or redirects you will need.
2. Use a custom error page:
   – An attractive page with suggestions or an internal search can reduce user frustration.
3. Check your links regularly:
   – Use tools such as Broken Link Checker to detect broken links.
4. Monitor errors in Google Search Console :
   – Review the reports to quickly spot pages flagged with a 410 error.
5. Monitor errors in Google Search Console: :
   – If your site is growing, consider increasing your hosting capacity.
6. Keep your sitemap up to date:
   – Remove or redirect outdated URLs to avoid repeated errors.

Conclusion

The HTTP 410 error can be frustrating, but it plays an important role by telling search engines that a resource has been permanently removed. By configuring your redirects correctly and informing your visitors, you can minimise its impact on the user experience and your SEO.

To prevent this error from happening again, follow the best practices mentioned and regularly monitor errors through Google Search Console. If you want to learn more about other HTTP errors, explore my articles on errors 404, 500, 403, 502, 503, 504, 429, 401, and 400 for detailed solutions!