Redirect (301 / 302)
Sitecheck Team
How HTTP redirects work and when to use 301 (permanent) vs 302 (temporary).
An HTTP redirect automatically forwards users and crawlers from one URL to another. The most important types are:
- 301 Permanent: Signals the move is permanent. Passes link equity (ranking signals) to the destination URL.
- 302 Temporary: Signals the move is temporary. Does not reliably pass link equity.
Why it matters: Using the wrong redirect type can prevent link equity from transferring and dilute your rankings. Redirect chains also waste crawl budget.
Quick tips:
- Always use 301 when permanently retiring or moving a page.
- Avoid redirect chains (A → B → C); consolidate to a single hop (A → C).
- HTTP → HTTPS redirects should always be 301.
See also: Canonical Tag, crawl budget, HTTPS.