300 vs 301: Multiple Choices vs Moved Permanently
300 and 301 can look similar in logs, but they tell clients, crawlers, and API consumers different things.
| Aspect | 300 | 301 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Multiple Choices describes how the server processed the request and what the client should do next. | Moved Permanently describes how the server processed the request and what the client should do next. |
| Typical use case | HTTP 300 Multiple Choices indicates a redirection response outcome. | HTTP 301 Moved Permanently indicates a redirection response outcome. |
| Caching/client behavior | Check cache headers and downstream behavior for 300. | Check cache headers and downstream behavior for 301. |
| SEO implications | Search crawlers interpret 300 according to redirect-codes semantics. | Search crawlers interpret 301 according to redirect-codes semantics. |
| API/backend impact | API clients may branch logic specifically on 300. | API clients may branch logic specifically on 301. |
When to use one vs the other
Use 300 when the response should communicate multiple choices behavior; use 301 when moved permanently is the accurate protocol signal.
A frequent mistake is swapping 300 and 301 for convenience; that causes client retry bugs, incorrect cache signals, and misleading monitoring data.
Decision summary: if user agents should receive the Multiple Choices signal, return 300; if they should receive Moved Permanently, return 301.
FAQ
What is the biggest difference between 300 and 301?
300 communicates Multiple Choices, while 301 communicates Moved Permanently. Choosing the right one keeps clients and intermediaries predictable.
Do 300 and 301 have SEO or caching impact?
Yes. Search engines and caches interpret status classes differently. Use each code according to its semantics to avoid accidental indexing, stale responses, or crawl inefficiency.
Can APIs safely return 300 instead of 301?
Only when it matches contract semantics. API clients often branch logic by exact code, so swapping them can break retries, auth handling, or user-facing errors.
Related guides: 300 Multiple Choices · 301 Moved Permanently