Question 1

What is a URL redirect?

Accepted Answer

A URL redirect automatically sends users and search engines from one URL to another. Redirects are used when pages move, URLs change, or websites migrate. The most common types are 301 (permanent) and 302 (temporary) redirects. Properly implementing redirects preserves SEO value and ensures users reach the correct page.

Question 2

What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

Accepted Answer

A 301 redirect means "Moved Permanently" — it tells search engines the old URL has permanently moved to a new one, transferring ~95% of the original page's SEO value (link equity). A 302 redirect means "Found" (temporary) — it tells search engines the move is temporary and to keep the original URL indexed. Using the wrong type is a common SEO mistake.

Question 3

What is a redirect chain?

Accepted Answer

A redirect chain occurs when one redirect leads to another redirect, forming a sequence of hops. For example: URL A → URL B → URL C → URL D. Each hop adds latency and can dilute SEO value. Google recommends having no more than 1 redirect between the original and final URL. Our tool traces the complete chain so you can identify and fix these issues.

Question 4

What is a redirect loop?

Accepted Answer

A redirect loop happens when URL A redirects to URL B, and URL B redirects back to URL A (or through a chain that returns to A). This creates an infinite loop that prevents users from reaching the page. Browsers typically show a "too many redirects" error. Our tool detects loops automatically.

Question 5

How do redirects affect SEO?

Accepted Answer

Redirects impact SEO in several ways: 1) 301 redirects pass ~95% of link equity to the new URL, 2) Long redirect chains dilute SEO value with each hop, 3) 302 redirects don't transfer link equity (search engines keep indexing the old URL), 4) Redirect loops prevent indexing entirely, 5) Slow redirect chains hurt page speed scores, which affect rankings.

Question 6

What HTTP status codes should I know?

Accepted Answer

200 = OK (page loaded successfully), 301 = Moved Permanently (best for SEO), 302 = Found/Temporary redirect, 307 = Temporary Redirect (HTTP/1.1), 308 = Permanent Redirect (HTTP/1.1), 404 = Not Found, 410 = Gone (permanently removed), 500 = Server Error, 503 = Service Unavailable.

Question 7

How do I check if my redirects are working correctly?

Accepted Answer

Enter your URL in our redirect checker above. It will trace every hop in the redirect chain, showing the HTTP status code, response time, and headers for each step. Look for: 1) Using 301 for permanent moves, 2) No more than 1-2 redirects in the chain, 3) Final URL returns 200 OK, 4) No redirect loops, 5) Total redirect time under 1 second.

URL Redirect Checker &
HTTP Status Tester

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Redirects & Their SEO Impact

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❌ Common Redirect Mistakes

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