Module 3: Checkpoint 7—Using best fit statuses
| Conformance: Desirable |
Requirements
Avoid the use of HTTP statuses 200, 302 or 404 where more appropriate HTTP statuses exist.
Benefits of conformance
- Consistent, quality experience for users of the site.
- Increased site credibility and levels of user trust.
- Increased likelihood that a user will find what they were looking for online.
Risks of non-conformance
- Possible increase in offline channel requests for inexplicably removed information.
- Reduced site credibility and levels of user trust.
Implementation advice
Explanation
Appropriate statuses can be found under the other checkpoints.
See the Using best fit statuses section from the HTTP status message guidelines for further information about how to meet this requirement.