This plugin issues an HTTP 410 response for URLs corresponding to content that has been permanently removed from your site. Originally created by Samir Shah, now maintained by Matt Calvert. When a post or page is deleted, the plugin logs the old URL and returns a 410 response when that URL is requested. You can also manually manage the list of obsolete URLs.
The HTTP Specification defines the 410 Gone response for resources that have been permanently removed. It informs search engines and crawlers that the content will not return, improving crawl efficiency and SEO clarity.
This plugin is actively maintained by Matt Calvert as a personal project, informed by previous professional experience with similar 410-handling logic. No proprietary or employer-owned code has been used.