What does HTTP status code 410 mean?
The 410 Gone status code indicates that the target resource was once available but has been permanently deleted and will not be restored.
When to use it in APIs
Excellent for sunsetted resources, deactivated users, or items deleted in compliance with privacy laws (e.g., GDPR deletion) where you want to explicitly state the deletion is permanent and has no redirect link.
How it compares to other codes
- 404 Not Found: Represents a generic absence. 410 is an explicit declaration that the resource existed but is gone forever.
