Google’s Search Relations team recently provided valuable insights into how HTTP status codes are processed by the search engine during a “Search Off the Record” podcast. Gary Illyes and Martin Splitt from Google clarified several status code categories that are often misunderstood by SEO professionals.
Understanding Google’s Approach to HTTP Status Codes
While the podcast did not cover every HTTP status code, it highlighted categories that frequently cause confusion among SEO practitioners. Splitt emphasized the importance of these codes, stating, “These status codes are actually important for site owners and SEOs because they tell a story about what happened when a particular request came in.”
The 1xx Codes: Ignored by Google
Google’s crawlers overlook all status codes in the 1xx range, including newer features like “early hints” (HTTP 103). Illyes explained, “We are just going to pass through [1xx status codes] anyway without even noticing that something was in the 100 range. We just notice the next non-100 status code instead.” While implementing early hints might enhance user experience, it won’t directly impact your SEO.
Redirects: Simplified Approach
SEO professionals often debate which redirect type to use (301, 302, 307, 308). However, Google’s primary concern is whether redirects are permanent or temporary. Illyes stated, “For Google search specifically, it’s just like ‘yeah, it was a redirection.’ We kind of care about in canonicalization whether something was temporary or permanent, but otherwise we just [see] it was a redirection.” This implies that while redirect implementation remains important, the distinction between permanent and temporary is more critical than the specific code number.
Client Error Codes: Standard Processing
The 4xx range of status codes functions as expected. Google processes standard codes like 404 (not found) and 410 (gone) appropriately, which are essential for effective crawl management. The team humorously mentioned status code 418 (“I’m a teapot”), an April Fool’s joke in the standards, which has no SEO impact.
Network Errors in Search Console: A Deeper Look
Many mysterious network errors in Search Console originate from deeper technical layers below HTTP. Illyes explained, “Every now and then you would get these weird messages in Search Console that like there was something with the network… and that can actually happen in these layers that we are talking about.” When encountering network-related crawl errors, it may be necessary to investigate lower-level protocols like TCP, UDP, or DNS.
Additional Insights
The podcast didn’t cover many status codes that are crucial to Google, including:
- 200 OK (the standard successful response)
- 500-level server errors (which can affect crawling and indexing)
- 429 Too Many Requests (rate limiting)
- Various other specialized codes
Practical Takeaways
While not a comprehensive guide to HTTP status codes, the discussion offered several practical insights:
- For redirects, focus on the permanent vs. temporary distinction.
- Avoid investing resources in optimizing 1xx responses specifically for Google.
- When troubleshooting network errors, look beyond HTTP to deeper protocol layers.
- Continue to implement standard status codes correctly, including those not specifically discussed.
As web technology evolves with HTTP/3 and QUIC, understanding how Google processes these signals can help you build more effective technical SEO strategies without overcomplicating implementation. For expert assistance in optimizing your website’s performance and visibility, consider leveraging Cyberset’s comprehensive services, including Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, and Local Internet Marketing.
