Did you know that the URL Inspection Tool within Google Search Console will label a 410 HTTP server status code as a 404 HTTP server code, not the 410 it truly is?
It's true - Earl Grey posted an example on Twitter in which Google's John Mueller said they do that as a "simplification." 404s are page not found status codes, but 410s are generally known as stricter, more permanent 404s.
Here is a screen shot of this happening:
Hi @JohnMu I removed a few pages from a site and they will never be coming back. I set them to be 410. Webmaster Tools is showing as a 404 not found which is technically wrong because they are 410 gone away. Is this a bug or a feature or completely insignificant? pic.twitter.com/kJoirMtdQc
— Earl Grey™ (@syndk8) May 18, 2019
Here is how John from Google responded:
Yeah, I think this is a simplification we do in that particular output. Also, what status code do we have to show to make you stop saying Webmaster Tools? :-)
— 🍌 John 🍌 (@JohnMu) May 19, 2019
Of course - I love the Webmaster Tools references. I don't think I ever catch myself as calling it Webmaster Tools anymore. Do you?
Forum discussion at Twitter.
