303 vs 307: See Other vs Temporary Redirect
303 and 307 can look similar in logs, but they tell clients, crawlers, and API consumers different things.
| Aspect | HTTP 303 — See Other | HTTP 307 — Temporary Redirect |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Used after a POST to redirect the user to a result page. Prevents form resubmission on browser reload. This is the Post/Redirect/Get (PRG) pattern. | Unlike 302, a 307 requires the client to repeat the request to the new URL with the same method and body. Use this when method preservation matters for temporary redirects. |
| Plain-language summary | HTTP 303 See Other redirects the client to retrieve the response from a different URL using GET, regardless of the original method. | Temporary redirect with mandatory method preservation. The client must repeat the request to the Location URL using the same HTTP method and body. If the original was a POST, the repeat must also be a POST. This is the spec-correct version of 302 for cases where method preservation matters. |
| When to use | HTTP 303 See Other redirects the client to retrieve the response from a different URL using GET, regardless of the original method. | Use 307 when: you need a temporary redirect AND the HTTP method must be preserved (e.g., a POST to /checkout being temporarily routed to /checkout-v2). Use 302 when method preservation does not matter or when you accept the browser's POST→GET behavior. Use 308 for permanent redirects with method preservation. |
| Client behavior | Client handles 303 according to redirect-codes semantics. | Client repeats the full request (same method, same body, same headers) to the Location URL. Browsers prompt for confirmation before re-sending a POST body. Unlike 302, a POST remains a POST. Not cached. |
| Caching behavior | See 303 caching spec. | Not cached by default. Like 302, temporary redirect responses are not stored unless you explicitly add caching headers (rarely appropriate). |
| SEO / crawler impact | Search crawlers interpret 303 (redirect-codes) for indexation and link equity accordingly. | Search crawlers interpret 307 (redirect-codes) for indexation and link equity accordingly. |
| API / backend impact | API clients branching on 303 expect See Other semantics. | API clients branching on 307 expect Temporary Redirect semantics. |
| Safe to retry? | Follow redirect, then retry original intent | Follow redirect, then retry original intent |
Common real-world scenarios
When you see HTTP 303
303 appears in production when: Resource moved to a different URI; Canonicalization or routing rule.
When you see HTTP 307
Less common than 302 in typical web applications but important in API gateways and service meshes where POST/PUT/DELETE requests need temporary routing changes. Used in HTTPS enforcement where method preservation matters for POST endpoints.
Decision rule
Use 303 when the response should communicate see other behavior; use 307 when temporary redirect is the accurate protocol signal.
A frequent mistake is swapping 303 and 307 for convenience; that causes client retry bugs, incorrect cache signals, and misleading monitoring data.
Use 303 when the correct protocol signal is See Other. Use 307 when the correct signal is Temporary Redirect. Returning either code for the wrong reason breaks client expectations, cache behavior, and monitoring accuracy.
FAQ
What is the biggest difference between 303 and 307?
303 communicates See Other, while 307 communicates Temporary Redirect. Choosing the right one keeps clients and intermediaries predictable.
Do 303 and 307 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 303 instead of 307?
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.
Full guides
HTTP 303 See Other — full guide · HTTP 307 Temporary Redirect — full guide · All comparisons · HTTP 303 status reference · HTTP 307 status reference