By Shad Super in Questions —

What Is the Difference Between a 302 Found Response and a 307 Temporary Redirect?

Summary

The HTTP status codes 302 Found and 307 Temporary Redirect are both used for redirection, but they have distinct behaviors in how they handle method preservation across requests. A 302 Found status code may not preserve the original request method, while a 307 Temporary Redirect ensures that the original method and body are preserved. Understanding these differences is critical for implementing proper HTTP redirects.

302 Found

Definition and Behavior

The 302 Found status code indicates that the requested resource has been temporarily moved to a different URI. However, it is important to note that this redirect does not guarantee preservation of the original HTTP method (e.g., GET, POST).

Due to historical browser behavior, user agents might change the request method from POST to GET when following a 302 redirect. This can lead to unintended consequences, especially for transactional operations that should not be reinterpreted as GET requests.

Examples:

  • A POST request to /submit-form might receive a 302 status and be redirected to /confirmation. Some clients will convert the request to a GET.
  • <code>
    HTTP/1.1 302 Found
    Location: /new-url
    </code>

307 Temporary Redirect

Definition and Behavior

The 307 Temporary Redirect status code ensures that the request method is retained across the redirect. From HTTP/1.1 onwards, this status code has been used to denote that the redirection should also preserve the request body and headers.

This is especially useful in scenarios where the initial request's method and body must be carried over to the new URL, ensuring the operation's integrity is maintained.

Examples:

  • A POST request to /submit-form receiving a 307 status and redirecting to /new-submit will retain the POST method.
  • <code>
    HTTP/1.1 307 Temporary Redirect
    Location: /new-url
    </code>

Use Cases and Considerations

When to Use 302 Found

The 302 Found status code can be suitable for simple page redirections where preserving the original method is not critical. For example, temporarily moving resources or dealing with legacy systems where the client behavior is predictable:

  • Redirecting from the old homepage to a new homepage temporarily.
  • Short-term redirections during maintenance or content reorganization.
  • Example: Redirecting /old-home to /new-home.

When to Use 307 Temporary Redirect

The 307 Temporary Redirect should be used when it is essential to maintain the original HTTP method and request body. Examples include:

  • Form submissions and APIs where method preservation is crucial.
  • Ensuring POST requests are not converted to GET requests.
  • Example: Migrating an API endpoint temporarily from /api/v1/submit to /api/v2/submit.

Conclusion

Both 302 Found and 307 Temporary Redirect are valuable HTTP status codes for handling temporary redirects, but they serve different purposes. The 302 status is flexible but potentially less consistent due to method-changing behaviors, whereas the 307 status ensures method and request body preservation, providing greater control over client-server interactions. Choosing the correct status code depends on the specific needs of your application and the importance of method preservation in context.

References