Understanding URL Redirects
URL redirects tell browsers and search engines that a page has moved to a new location. They're essential during website migrations, URL structure changes, and domain transitions. A 301 redirect is permanent and passes most link equity (ranking power) to the new URL — this is the recommended redirect for SEO. A 302 redirect is temporary and tells search engines the original URL should remain indexed. Using the wrong redirect type can harm your rankings.
Redirect chains occur when one redirect leads to another, which leads to another. Each hop in the chain adds latency and can dilute link equity. Google recommends keeping redirect chains to a maximum of 3 hops, though ideally every redirect should point directly to the final destination. Redirect loops happen when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects back to URL A, creating an infinite cycle that makes the page inaccessible. Our Redirect Checker traces the complete chain, identifies the type of each redirect, and helps you spot chains and loops that could be hurting your SEO performance.