WordPress glossary
410 Gone
An HTTP status code that tells Google a URL is permanently removed and should be dropped from the index faster than a 404.
Last updated ยท Reviewed by Ali Yasin Jatoi
After a hack injects thousands of spam URLs, returning 410 Gone (not 404 Not Found) on those paths is the fastest way to get them de-indexed. Google treats 410 as a deliberate signal that the URL will never return, while 404 may be retried for weeks. Pair with a Removals request in Search Console for the largest spam clusters.
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